Heterzygous carriers of the Arg3531Cys mutation in the general population did not have higher-than-normal plasma cholesterol levels or an increased risk of ischemic heart disease (odds ratio; 1.4; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.2 to 11; P=0.54).
The Arg3500Gln mutation in the apolipoprotein B gene, which is responsible for familial defective apolipoprotein B-100 and is present in approximately 1 in 1000 persons in Denmark, causes severe hypercholesterolemia and increases the risk of ischemic heart disease.