OBJECTIVETo study the distribution of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP)-TaqIB polymorphism and plasma concentration in general population and the association between the two.

METHODSA cross-sectional study was carried out in a general population of Beijing in 1999, using stratified-random sampling method. CETP-TaqIB polymorphism and plasma CETP concentration were determined in 719 individual aged 45 - 64 years.

RESULTS(1) Frequencies of B1B1, B1B2 and B2B2 genotypes were 0.356, 0.478 and 0.166, respectively. The frequency of allele B2 was 0.405. Distributions of genotypes and alleles were homogeneous in both sexes. (2) Plasma CETP concentration manifested as a normal distribution, with the mean of 2.03 micro g/ml. The value of female was 20.3%, higher than that of male (P < 0.001). There were no differences among age groups. (3) Plasma CETP concentrations of B1B1 and B1B2 were 19.6% and 13.4% higher than that of B2B2 homozygotes. (4) Stratified by lipid levels, smoking and alcohol consumption, only when tryglyceride exceeded 150 mg/dl, with no significant difference among three genotypes. The effect of lipids, smoking and alcohol consumption status was more significant in B1B2 heterozygotes.

CONCLUSIONCETP-TaqIB polymorphism was a determinant of plasma CETP concentration. However, the effect could be modified by other factors, such as lipids, smoking and alcohol consumption.