Minigel methodology has been utilized for apolipoprotein (apo) E isoform 
phenotyping and criteria for distinguishing the apoE4/4 phenotype (mean 
apoE4/apoE3 ratio: 5.81) from the apoE4/3 phenotype (mean ratio: 1.01) and the 
apoE3/3 phenotype (mean apoE3/apoE2 ratio: 2.67) from the apoE3/2 phenotype 
(mean ratio: 0.76) based on gel scanning were developed. ApoE allele frequencies 
in 1209 subjects were: apoE3, 0.786; apoE4, 0.135; apoE2, 0.075; apoE5, 0.002; 
and apoE1, 0.002. Subjects with the apoE2 allele tended to have higher plasma 
very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol and lower low density 
lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations than subjects with the apoE3 
allele, while the converse was true for subjects with the apoE4 allele. Subjects 
with the rare apoE1 allele had values similar to those with the apoE2 allele, 
while subjects with the rare apoE5 allele had values similar to those with the 
apoE4 allele.