title: Skinfold thickness and blood pressure across C-344T polymorphism of CYP11B2 gene.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To ascertain whether body adiposity is associated with the C-344T polymorphism of the CYP11B2 gene codifying for aldosterone synthase.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional epidemiological evaluation of a highly homogeneous unselected general population of Caucasians.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lifestyle, medical history, anthropometrics, subscapular, triceps and suprailiac skinfold thickness, lying blood pressure and biochemical measures were recorded in a population-based study among 1386 unselected subjects (56.5% women) living in a secluded valley. All were genotyped for C-344T allele status. Continuous variables were compared across genotypes with analysis of covariance and correlations evaluated using the Pearson method. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated for the TT and CT genotype versus the CC homozygotes and compared with the T-carriers with a logistic model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The C-344T genotypic frequency did not deviate from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. In women, higher values of triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness were found in the CC homozygotes than in the T-carriers. In this sex, skinfold thickness also directly correlated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the T-carriers only. The logistic regression for the dependent variable arterial hypertension showed an influence of triceps [OR 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.12, P=0.006], subscapular (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.06-1.20, P<0.0001) and suprailiac (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01-1.15, P=0.03) skinfold in T-carrier women only. These relationships were not detectable in men. The aldosterone-to-renin ratios were comparable across genotypes and sexes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The C-344T polymorphism of the CYP11B2 gene seems to exert a sex-specific influence on body adiposity, independent of adrenal aldosterone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Padova, and Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Thiene-Schio, Thiene-Schio, Italy. edoardo.casiglia@unipd.it
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Casiglia
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tikhonoff
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schiavon
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guglielmi
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pagnin
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bascelli
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Basso
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.forename: Bortolo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bolzon
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guidotti
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caffi
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rizzato
authors.forename: Achille C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pessina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D001483:Base Sequence; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019405:Cytochrome P-450 CYP11B2 / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012885:Skinfold Thickness
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D019405:Cytochrome P-450 CYP11B2