Association between ghrelin gene variations and blood pressure in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance.
BACKGROUND
Ghrelin is a gut-brain hormone, which stimulates food intake and controls energy balance. Recently, it has been shown that ghrelin may also play a role in the regulation of blood pressure (BP) by acting at the sympathetic nervous system. In the present study we genotyped six variants of the ghrelin gene and its promoter, and tested whether these single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were associated with BP levels in participants of the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study.


METHODS
The Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study was a longitudinal study where 522 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance were randomized into either an intervention or control group. DNA was available from 507 subjects (mean body mass index [BMI] 31.2+/-4.5 kg/m2, age 55+/-7 years). All six SNPs were screened by the restriction fragment length polymorphism method.


RESULTS
Subjects with the most common genotype combination of the following four SNPs, -604G/A, -501A/C, Leu72Met, and Gln90Leu, had the lowest systolic (131+/-11 v 137+/-13 mm Hg, P=.003) and diastolic BP levels (79+/-7 v 83+/-7 mm Hg, P=.004) at the baseline of the study and during 3 years of follow-up compared to all other genotypes. Adjustments for age, gender, antihypertensive medication, BMI, waist circumference, and alcohol intake did not change this association.


CONCLUSIONS
Several ghrelin gene variations were associated with BP levels in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance.
Mager
Ursula
U
Department of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition and Food and Health Research Centre, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland. ursula.mager@uku.fi
Kolehmainen
Marjukka
M
Lindström
Jaana
J
Eriksson
Johan G
JG
Valle
Timo T
TT
Hämäläinen
Helena
H
Ilanne-Parikka
Pirjo
P
Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi
Sirkka
S
Tuomilehto
Jaakko O
JO
Pulkkinen
Leena
L
Uusitupa
Matti I
MI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D054439:Ghrelin; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
D054439:Ghrelin; D036361:Peptide Hormones