Are you someone that has followed a heart healthy diet "to the letter" and still struggled to lower blood pressure or cholesterol levels? If so, it's possible the diet didn't work for you due to your specific genetic makeup.

Mapping of the human genome (13 year project that identified all genes in human DNA) was completed by scientists in 2003.

For the most part, genes are the same between individuals, with just a 1% variation. This small difference is what accounts for our unique physical attributes, biological processes, and metabolism. It's also this slight difference that makes one individual more susceptible to heart disease than another.

Nutrigenomics

This has opened the door for nutrigenomics and the role it can play disease prevention. You see, dietary recommendations, such as Dietary Reference Intakes and Recommended Dietary Allowances, are established to meet the needs of 99% of the population from a statistical perspective. However, a "one size fits all approach" doesn't necessarily work. Now, don't get me wrong, it's a great foundation to base your diet around, but if you have a specific disease or increased risk for disease, this is where nutrigenomics can step in.

Nutrigenomics looks at the interaction between nutrients and genes, because how we respond and metabolize nutrients is influenced by our genes.

Apolipoprotein E

The Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype influences coronary heart disease risk. APOE was discovered back in 1970 and can bind to triglyceride rich lipoproteins and acts as a binding mechanism for receptors.

There are three APOE variations. To truly understand the three different variations you need to understand alleles and isoforms. I'm not going to get into an explanation of this because it'd just be too confusing. Let's call the three different variations E2, E3, and E4. Those with E2 produce the highest levels of APOE, E3 produces the next highest levels of APOE, followed by E4.

Apolipoprotein E3 is the most common form across racial groups, followed by E4. Apolipoprotein E2 is the least common form, found to be highest in African Americans. All three forms of apolipoprotein E are connected to coronary heart disease, with E4 having the greatest risk, followed by E3, and then E2 with the lowest risk. As an FYI, African Americans' also tend to be higher in E4.

What this means in regards to your cholesterol levels

Apolipoprotein E2 tends to interact with receptors and enzymes at a slower rate, resulting in delayed breakdown of chylomicrons and VLDL cholesterol. Those with E2 tend to have a greater risk for elevated triglycerides while LDL cholesterol remains low.

Those with apolipoprotein E4 appears to increase VLDL conversion to LDL cholesterol, eventually leading to increased levels of LDL cholesterol in circulation. The apolipoprotein E4 is known as a highly atherogenic and inflammatory lipid profile.