VARIANCE OF PLASMA-FREE AND ESTERIFIED CHOLESTEROL IN ADULT TWINS

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 28  (2) , 174-178
Abstract
Total, free and esterified cholesterol were measured in the plasma, high density lipoproteins (HDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), and total cholesterol in the very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) of 141 pairs of adult white male twins. Free cholesterol in plasma, HDL and LDL had significant genetic variance. Esterified cholesterol had greater total variance in dizygotic than monozygotic twins, interpreted as evidence for greater environmental influences on the 2 types of twins. After bias due to unequal environmental effects on the 2 types of twins was removed, there was no significant genetic variance for any esterified fraction of cholesterol.