Science Beat

One in five Delhiites carry mutated APOA5 gene

A study done over four decades has found that a particular mutated gene is making people in Delhi susceptible to suffer from high triglyceride levels,irrespective of their lifestyle. The study published in the journal Lipids and Heart Disease stated that one in five Delhiites carry the mutated APOA5 gene,tested over 1500 Delhiites since 1969. Those with the mutated gene had at least23.6 mg/dl higher triglyceride levels compared to those with a normal gene. The study was authored jointly by

Dr Lakshmy Ramakrishnan from AIIMS department of cardiac biochemistry,Dr Harshpal S Sachdev from department of pediatrics in Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research,Meenakshi Sharma from the Indian Council of Medical Research,Dr K S Reddy from Public Health Foundation of India and experts from Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology Hyderabad. The study aimed at measuring factors related to risk for cardiovascular disease and Type-II diabetes,and establishing their relation with the growth pattern from a young age.