Cardiovascular Disease (ApoE) DNA Test

Many genetic and environmental conditions contribute to cardiovascular disease and one major genetic risk factor is the APOE gene. The APOE gene encodes Apolipoprotein E (ApoE), a protein involved in the production, delivery, and utilization of cholesterol in the body. There are several different versions or alleles of the APOE gene, and the three most common alleles are known as e2, e3 and e4. Each of these alleles produce a slightly different version of the ApoE protein.

• e3: The most common allele worldwide and is viewed as the neutral allele, with no increased or decreased risk of cardiovascular disease
• e4: Associated with an increased risk of high LDL-cholesterol levels and atherosclerosis
• e2: Associated with lower LDL-cholesterol levels in the blood, but increased risk of high blood sugar and hyperlipoproteinemia type III, leading to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease