Abstract: The present invention is directed to new genetic variants or polymorphisms at the perilipin locus (PLIN) including PLIN1: 6209T (allele 1)>C (allele 2); PLIN3 10171 (allele 1) A >T (allele 2); PLIN4: 11482G (allele 1)>A (allele 2); PLIN5: 13041A (allele 1)>G (allele 2) and PLIN6: 14995A (allele 1)>T (allele 2), and their use in diagnostic and prognostic applications for obesity and obesity-related diseases, such as metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of developing dietary guidelines, particularly associated with dietary consumption of fatty acids. We discovered an association of a polymorphic marker with regulation of plasma lipid levels in response to dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods for providing individualized guidance in design of dietary interventions to alter plasma lipid profiles by genotyping APOA5 locus, wherein the presence of APOA5?1131C, APOA5?3G, APOA5 IVS3+476A, and APOA5 1259C alleles or alleles that are found to be in tight linkage disequilibrium with APOA5?1131C, APOA5?3G, APOA5 IVS3+476A, and APOA5 1259C alleles, is indicative of the individual being susceptible to altered plasma lipid levels in response to intake of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for personalized diet design for females of Asian origin, wherein females who are homozygous for the PLIN 11482A are advised to avoid diets high in fat and low in carbohydrates, to avoid or manage metabolic syndrome and conditions related to metabolic syndrome, such as insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and kits for designing a diet with a desired fat content for an individual in need thereof to allow the individual to, for example, maintain or reduce healthy weight, manage diabetes, for example by managing weight or accommodate a food allergy. The method comprises determining whether the individual carries APOA5 ?1131T and/or C allele or both or any allele in chromosome 11 that is in a tight linkage disequilibrium with said-alleles, wherein if the individual is a homozygote for APOA5 ?1131T allele or an allele in tight linkage disequilibrium with APOA5 ?1131T allele, the designing of a diet comprises reducing a total fat content of the diet below 30% of total calorie intake and/or reducing the amount of monounsaturated fatty acids in the diet under about 11% of total calorie intake. We surprisingly found that these methods and kits apply to both females and males and to a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

Abstract: Disclosed is method for assessing risk for the development of cardiovascular disease in an individual. The method includes isolating nucleic acid from the individual, analyzing the nucleic acid for the presence of the TaqIB polymorphism of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene, determining from the analysis whether the individual is homozygous for the TaqIB polymorphism; is heterozygous for the TaqIB polymorphism; or does not possess the TaqIB polymorphism. Risk for the development of cardiovascular disease is assessed in the individual on the basis of these determinations. Additional determinations of one or more known factors of cardiovascular disease risk may also be assessed. Methods for analysis of genomic DNA for the presence of the TaqIB polymorphism are provided. Also disclosed is a kit for assessing risk for the development of cardiovascular disease in an individual.

Abstract: The present invention is based at least in part on the discovery of the genomic structure of the human SR-BI gene and on the identification of polymorphic regions within the gene. Accordingly, the invention provides nucleic acids having a nucleotide sequence of an allelic variant of an SR-BI gene and nucleic acids having an SR-BI intronic sequence. The invention also provides methods for identifying specific alleles of polymorphic regions of an SR-BI gene, methods for determining whether a subject has or is at risk of developing a disease which is associated with a specific allele of a polymorphic region of an SR-BI gene, and kits for performing such methods.

Abstract: The present invention is based at least in part on the discovery of a polymorphism in the human SR-BI gene which is genetically linked with a high body mass index. Accordingly, the invention provides diagnostic assays and kits for determining whether a subject has or is at risk of developing an abnormal body mass index, such as a high body mass.