ESPE Abstracts

Background: Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is a possible candidate gene that may influence both body fatness and blood pressure. Although several genetic studies have been conducted in adults, relatively few studies have examined the contribution of ACE candidate genes for development of the obesity-hypertension phenotype early in life.

Aim: To screen Egyptian obese children and adolescents for insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the gene encoding ACE and its relation to hypertension and other features of metabolic syndrome.

Methods: Seventy obese children and adolescents were compared to 72 controls. All were subjected to history, blood pressure measurement, anthropometric assessment and assessment of fasting lipid profile and fasting glucose and insulin. In addition, DNA extraction and genotyping for ACE I/D gene polymorphism was done.

Results: Obese children had higher frequency of DD genotype (cases 30% versus 11.1% in controls, P=0.01) and D alleles (cases: 61.8% versus 48.6% in controls, P=0.01) and lower frequency of II genotype (cases: 27.1% versus 34.7% in controls, P=0.04) and I alleles (38.2% versus 51.4% respectively, P=0.01) than controls. Also, obese children with hypertension and pre-hypertension had higher frequency of DD genotype and D alleles and lower frequency of II genotype and I alleles than those with normal blood pressure. DD genotype and D allele were risk factors for hypertension while dyslipidemia and insulin resistance were not associated with I/D polymorphism in the ACE gene.

Conclusion: DD genotype and D-allele of I/D polymorphism in the ACE gene were associated with a higher risk of hypertension pre-hypertension in Egyptian obese children.