heart & blood vessels

PON1

The Gene That Protects Your Heart (PON1)

Written by Mathew Eng, PharmD on September 12th, 2019

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Fortunately, PON1 protects your heart by clearing away fats in your blood. Certain genetic variants, however, may impact how well PON1 works. Find out if your genes are protecting your heart and what you can do about it.

What Is The PON1 Gene?

The PON1 gene encodes a protein that is also called PON1. The protein PON1, which is short for paraoxonase 1, is an enzyme that hydrolyzes (breaks apart) many different types of chemical bonds [R].

This ability to break down various molecules is useful for when the body needs to remove certain harmful compounds. For example, PON1 breaks apart oxidized fats that could otherwise lead to heart disease, and it can also detoxify toxic compounds called organophosphates [R, R].

The PON1 gene encodes the protein PON1, which protects the body by breaking down harmful compounds.

How Does PON1 Protect The Heart?

PON1, which is found inside HDL (your good cholesterol), helps the heart by breaking apart oxidized fats in your bloodstream. If these fat compounds are not controlled, they can develop into plaque buildup that clogs the blood vessels, which is known as atherosclerosis. This can lead to several heart disorders like coronary artery disease and heart attacks [R].

Preliminary research suggests that increasing PON1 activity results in lower atherosclerosis, which ultimately leads to a lower risk of developing heart disease in the future [R].

PON1 protects the heart by breaking down fats in the blood, which could otherwise turn into dangerous plaque buildup.

The PON1 Gene and Heart Health

There are two main SNPs in the PON1 gene that influence the heart-protective effects of PON1: rs662 and rs854560. While research on both SNPs has revealed some conflicting results, the majority of studies seem to indicate that specific gene variants can protect your heart better [R].

A recent, large analysis of 64 studies including over 53,000 people gives us perhaps the best insight on PON1’s effect on the heart. In rs662, they found that people with the “C” allele may have lower rates of both heart attacks and coronary artery disease compared to those without it [R].

According to the same analysis, people who have a “T” allele at rs854560 may also have lower rates of developing heart disease, but only in European and Asian groups [R]. Its important to remember that these findings have been inclusive and more research is needed before we can draw any firm conclusions on these SNPs and heart health.

The “C” allele in rs662 and the “T” allele in rs854560 may protect you from developing heart disease as you age. But more reseach is needed.

Your PON1 Results for Heart Disease

Primary SNP:

PON1 rs662

“C” allele doesn’t increase your risk
“T” allele increases your risk of heart disease

Population Frequency

24% of the world population have "TT"

PON1 rs854560

“T” allele doesn’t increase your risk
“A” allele increases your risk of heart disease

Population Frequency

68% of the world population have "AA"

Note:

In rs854560, the risk allele “A” appears to only affect Europeans and Asians, the allele does not increase risk in other groups

SNP Table

variant	genotype	frequency	risk allele
rs662
rs854560

Recommendations

Lifestyle

There are several lifestyle changes you can make to significantly boost your PON1 activity. You should try to:

Quit smoking: the oxidant compounds in cigarettes can inhibit PON1, and smokers are at greater risk of heart disease [R, R]
Exercise more: it activates PPAR-gamma, a receptor that increases PON1 expression; regular exercise is strongly associated with lower risk of heart disease [R, R, R, R]
Fix any inflammation issues: inflammatory compounds like IL-1b and TNF-alpha can reduce the expression and activity of PON1. Inflammation is also linked to atherosclerosis [R, R, R]

Research shows that exercising, quitting cigarettes, and reducing inflammation can significantly improve your PON1 function and reduce your risk of heart disease.

Diet

According to research, many different types of foods can increase PON1 activity and reduce the risk of heart disease. These foods primarily work as antioxidants, which stop oxidants from inhibiting PON1 [R, R].

Foods and diets that have been shown to protect the heart and increase the activity of PON1 include:

The Mediterranean diet is strongly associated with a lower risk of heart disease [R, R, R]
Extra virgin olive oil may reduce the risk of death from heart disease by as much as 48% [R, R, R]
Green tea has been shown to lower the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes [R, R, R]
Fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids) can reduce the risk of coronary artery disease and cardiac death. This is, in part, due to their ability to reduce fats in the blood [R, R, R, R]
Blueberries may reduce blood pressure and cholesterol in obese people, both of which are risk factors for heart disease [R, R, R]
Pomegranate significantly decreases blood pressure [R, R, R]
Quercetin, a polyphenol found in fruits and vegetables, may protect against heart disease risk factors, like diabetes, high blood pressure, and inflammation [R, R, R]

However, it’s important to note that some of these findings are based on animal or cell studies. It’s not always clear what effect may be seen in humans [R].

Foods rich in antioxidants like green tea, blueberries, and fish oils can increase the activity of PON1, while also reducing your risk of heart disease.

Supplements

Several supplements have been shown to increase PON1 activity and improve heart health. Similar to the food recommendations, these supplements primarily boost PON1 by acting as an antioxidant [R]

Vitamin C deficiency is linked to a higher risk of death from heart disease. Vitamin C may also improve your cholesterol and blood vessel function [R, R]
Grape seed extract may improve your blood pressure and blood vessel function, both of which can be risk factors for heart disease if not properly controlled [R, R, R]
Curcumin may protect against heart disease by lowering blood pressure, decreasing total cholesterol, and improving the function of HDL (your good cholesterol) [R, R, R, R]
Resveratrol may reduce the risk of heart disease and heart failure [R, R, R, R]

However, many of these supplements were only studied in animal or cell studies; they may not have the same effect in humans [R, R, R].

Supplements that contain antioxidants like vitamin C, curcumin, and grape seed extract increase PON1 activity and may improve heart health.

Mathew Eng

PharmD

Mathew received his PharmD from the University of Hawaii and an undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Washington.

Mathew is a licensed pharmacist with clinical experience in oncology, infectious disease, and diabetes management. He has a passion for personalized patient care and believes that education is essential to living a healthy life. His goal is to motivate individuals to find ways to manage their chronic conditions.

Disclaimer

The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other official medical body. This information is presented for educational purposes only, and may not be used to diagnose or treat any illness or disease.

Also keep in mind that the “Risk Score” presented in this post is based only on a select number of SNPs, and therefore only represents a small portion of your total risk as an individual. Furthermore, these analyses are based primarily on associational studies, which do not necessarily imply causation. Finally, many other (non-genetic) factors can also play a significant role in the development of a disease or health condition — therefore, carrying any of the risk-associated genotypes discussed in this post does not necessarily mean you are at increased risk of developing a major health condition.

Always consult your doctor before acting on any information or recommendations discussed in this post — especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have been officially diagnosed with a medical condition.

More heart & blood vessels blogs

The Gene That Protects Your Heart (PON1) The Link Between Methylation, Cholesterol, and Heart Disease (PEMT) Are You Genetically Vulnerable to Heart Disease (NOS3)? Caffeine: Your Friend or Foe? (CYP1A2) Is This Cholesterol Gene Linked To Lifespan? (CETP) Does This Cholesterol-Related Gene Affect Lifespan? (APOC1) The Complex Relationship Between CRP and Longevity Does This Gene Affect Salt Sensitivity and Blood Pressure? (SLC4A5) How Does This Fat Transport Gene Affect Metabolic & Cardiovascular Disease? (APOA5) Can This Gene Influence Your Risk of Heart Disease (COMT)?

Content

What Is The PON1 Gene? The PON1 Gene and Heart Health Your PON1 Results for Heart Disease

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