A general association of lipid abnormalities with essential hypertension have been reported in some epidemiological studies. Also, many of the candidate genes in lipid metabolism have been suggested to the candidates for hypertension. Thus, we investigated that variations in 5 candidate genes (ApoB, CETP, LDL receptor, LPL and paraoxonase genes) would be associated with essential hypertension. We also studied the distribution of genotypes according to clinical features and biochemical variables as covariates in an association analysis. Our studies showed the significant difference in the genotype distribution of AlwI RFLP at the paraoxonase gene between nomotensives and hypertensives (P<0.05). Also, the hypertensives had different plasma triglyceride levels according to genotypes of paraoxonase gene (ANOVA test, P<0.05). Thus, AlwI RFLP at the paraoxonase gene should be a useful marker in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension by elevated triglyceride level.