title: A genetic polymorphism in the CYP19A1 gene and the risk of hypertension among midlife women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test whether a synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (A→G; rs700518) in the CYP19A1 gene, which encodes the enzyme aromatase, is associated with an increased risk for hypertension of midlife women.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study, 639 midlife women were recruited. Eligible women had their blood pressure, weight and height measured, and donated a blood sample for hormone and genetic analyses. The participants also completed a detailed study survey. Women were grouped according to their genotype, blood pressure measurements, and medical history. The data were analyzed using logistic and linear regression models. The study had 80% power to detect small differences in mean systolic blood pressure (SBP; 4.5 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP; 3 mmHg).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The selected polymorphism was significantly associated with hypertension and SBP in unadjusted analyses. Interestingly, women with hypertension were more likely to be homozygous for the A allele (AA) compared to women who were not categorized as having hypertension. Further, the mean SBP was significantly higher for women who were homozygous for the A allele when compared to women carrying the other genotypes (AG or GG). The unadjusted association between DBP values and genotype was of borderline statistical significance (p=0.07). However, after adjustment for potential confounders (age, race, body mass index (BMI), smoking and physical activity), the associations between genotype and hypertension/blood pressure were attenuated and not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rs700518 polymorphism in the CYP19A1 is not associated with hypertension in our sample of midlife women. Other factors, including race and BMI, appear to play a greater role.
authors: Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
authors: Ayelet
authors: A
authors: Ziv-Gal
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Gallicchio
authors: Susan R
authors: SR
authors: Miller
authors: Howard A
authors: HA
authors: Zacur
authors: Jodi A
authors: JA
authors: Flaws
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D001141:Aromatase / Q000235:genetics*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics*; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001141:Aromatase; C561410:CYP19A1 protein, human