The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) interindividual variability and 16 polymorphisms of 11 genes associated with cardiovascular risk factors (genes among lipid and homocysteine metabolisms, blood viscosity, platelet aggregation, leukocyte adhesion and renin-angiotensin system). CIMT was measured by high resolution B mode ultrasonography in an healthy population of 77 men and 84 women, aged 35-54 years and selected from a French cohort: the Stanislas cohort. The polymorphisms studied were genotyped by a multilocus approach. Statistical analysis were done by ANOVA after adjustment of CIMT for age, BMI and smoking and by multiple regression analyses. No association was found with APOB Thr71 Ile, APOC3 -482C/T, -455T/C, GpIIIa P1A, AT1R 1166A/C, AGT Met235Thr, CBS Ile278Thr, SELE 98G/T and SELE Ser128Arg, polymorphism neither in men nor in women. Although, in women we found always no association for the APOC3 3206T/G, 3175C/G, 1100C/T, the CETP Ile405Val, the MTHFR 677C/T and the fibrinogen -455G/A polymorphism's, in men these polymorphism's were associated with CIMT variability (0.01 < or = p < or = 0.05). The most interesting finding was that altogether these genes in men were able to explain a considerable part, 20.6%, of CIMT variability. Therefore, our study gives a new opportunity to understand CIMT variability.