Sex difference in the association of the angiotensin converting enzyme I/D polymorphism and body mass index.
BACKGROUND
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) catayzes the formation of angiotensin I to angiotensin II. A polymorphism has been identified in intron 16 in which a 287 base-pair alu sequence was found to be present (insertion or I) or absent (deletion or D) in the population. ACE and the components of the renin-angiotensin system are expressed in adipose tissue and therefore the I/D polymorphism within ACE may be associated with obesity.


METHODS
This study involved genotyping two groups with differing body mass indexes (BMI <or=25 and BMI >or=30) that were composed primarily of middle-age Caucasian subjects (n=421).


RESULTS
The male groups differed significantly in allele frequency at the ACE locus with the I allele more frequent in the BMI >or=30 group (p<0.05). While the female BMI >or=30 group also had a higher I allele frequency than the BMI <or=25 group, the difference is not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate a sex difference in the association of the I/D polymorphism and BMI. Our findings differ from some other previous studies using various population groups which indicate that the ACE I/D polymorphism may be differentially associated with obesity depending on multiple factors.
Wacker
Michael J
MJ
Department of Basic Medical Science, School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA. wackerm@umkc.edu
Godard
Michael P
MP
McCabe
Everlee H
EH
Donnelly
Joseph E
JE
Kelly
John K
JK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D009765:Obesity / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A