title: ACE gene and physical activity, blood pressure, and hypertension: a population study in Finland.
abstract: The study evaluated the association of the insertion/deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene (ACE I/D) with self-reported moderate-intensity leisure time physical activity (MILTPA), arterial blood pressure (BP) and history of hypertension (HT). A representative population-based sample of 721 middle-aged adults (358 women) from two areas of Finland was genotyped for the ACE I/D. After exclusion criteria were applied, 455 subjects (288 women) were selected for the analysis. The distribution of the ACE I/D genotypes did not differ significantly among frequent vs. nonfrequent MILTPA groups (chi(2) = 2.556; df = 2; P value = 0.279). The main predictors of BP were male gender, age, body mass index, and arterial pulse. Additionally, tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption also had a significant main effect on diastolic BP. HT was significantly more frequent in subjects with obesity, family history of cardiovascular disease, or lower educational level. As for BP, neither ACE I/D nor MILTPA was associated with HT. The study confirmed recent reports from population-based studies of no association between ACE I/D and physical fitness. The study also confirmed a lack of association between ACE I/D and BP or HT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and General Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kuopio, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland. ricardo.fuentes@messi.uku.fi
authors.forename: Ricardo M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Fuentes
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perola
authors.forename: Aulikki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nissinen
authors.forename: Jaakko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tuomilehto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A