Genetic Variation in the Renin–Angiotensin System and Abdominal Adiposity in Men: The Olivetti Prospective Heart Study

Abstract

The ACE I/D polymorphism was a significant predictor of overweight and abdominal adiposity in men. DD homozygosity was associated with larger increases in body weight and blood pressure in aging persons, as well as with higher incidence of overweight.

Developmental changes in adiposity in toddlers and preschoolers in the GENESIS study and associations with the ACE I/D polymorphism

“…7 In the present study, the effects of the ACE I/D polymorphism on adiposity indices were investigated in a population of toddlers and preschool children. The D-allele was significantly associated with higher scores for three adiposity-related phenotypes (BMI, waist and arm circumference) in girls aged 4-6 years (Table 2), a finding in agreement with previous studies in teenagers 18 and adults, 26,27 where DD individuals showed increased adiposity compared to II and ID genotypes. In boys 3-4 years old, homozygotes for the D-allele were also significantly associated with higher suprailiac skinfold (Table 1), again in agreement with a previous report showing increased adiposity in Italian men of the DD genotype.…”

“…girls aged 4-6 years in the present study) may interact with the ACE I/D polymorphism and in doing so influence body fat accumulation in a similar manner as previously reported in Greek teenage girls. 18 Although the present study provides further support for the ACE I/D polymorphism being a good candidate gene for human obesity, 18,26,27 the precise mechanism by which ACE may produce this effect remains unclear. The primary role of ACE is to convert angiotensin I into angiotensin II (a potent vasoconstrictor).…”

“…In boys 3-4 years old, homozygotes for the D-allele were also significantly associated with higher suprailiac skinfold (Table 1), again in agreement with a previous report showing increased adiposity in Italian men of the DD genotype. 26 In contrast, in younger boys aged 1-2 years, the D-allele showed Figure 2 ACE I/D genotype differences in BMI and subscapular skinfold for 1-2-year-old boys. P, probability, V, observed variance explained; N and number within group.…”

“…14 In the context of obesity, the I/D polymorphism (or another polymorphism in strong linkage disequilibrium with it, if it turns out not to be the functional polymorphism responsible for these associations) may modulate locally produced angiotensin II levels at particular stages of development, resulting in the significant associations found between the I/D polymorphism and adiposity-related phenotypes in this and other studies. 18,26,27 …”

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) gene promoter variant and increased susceptibility to early development of hypertension in humans

“…We used a cohort of young male subjects (n ¼ 395) followed up for 28 years from the Olivetti Heart Study, a survey of cardiovascular risk factors carried out in Southern Italy. 11 At baseline (1975) and subsequent follow-up visits (1987, 1994-1995, and 2002-2004), each participant underwent anthropometry and BP measurements, and a venous blood sample was drawn. Personal and familiar medical history was collected in the interview.…”