Polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene and BMI in obese Korean women

Background: The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a role in the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases. This system was recently found to be completely expressed in human adipose tissue. Especially angiotensin II, the active component of RAS, may affect adipogenesis and adipocyte metabolism. We examined whether obese and non-obese subjects differ from angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) genotype distribution, and whether the ACE genotypes affect the anthropometric parameters or the degrees of body mass index (BMI).

Methods: The study included 155 obese healthy women (BMI > or = 25 kg/m(2), range 25-54.7, age range 15-40 years), 82 non-obese women (BMI < 25 kg/m(2), range 15-40 years), and 613 random controls. Total fat mass and percent body fat (PBF) were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Genomic DNA was extracted and used for polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based genotyping of ACE.

Results: Age, percent body fat, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body mass index, and cholesterol concentrations did not differ from ACE genotype. No differences were observed for allelic and genotype frequencies between obese women (BMI > or = 25) and 82 non-obese women or 613 random controls. In addition, no association of ACE polymorphism was observed with BMI for genotype in obese women.

Conclusions: ACE polymorphism is not a significant factor for BMI and does not contribute to the odds of obesity in obese healthy women from Korea.