Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) plays a central role in triglyceride metabolism, and the LPL gene T495G HindIII polymorphism has been associated with variations in lipid levels and heart disease in Caucasians with the more common H+ allele being associated with adverse lipid profiles and increased risk of CHD.
Greater knowledge of the underlying mechanisms of these variations within the LPL gene may be of considerable importance in understanding genetic predisposition to atherosclerosis and heart disease.