Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the relevance of polymorphism in angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism to the pathophysiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Subjects and methods: Thirty patients with PCOS by Rotterdam consensus criteria and 33 control subjects were prospectively investigated. ACE gene amplification of DNA was performed by polymerase chain reaction. Homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR) was applied.
Results: Compared to controls, ACE gene DD genotype and D allele were observed more frequently in PCOS (63% vs. 46% for DD genotype and 75% vs. 67% for D allele) (p > 0.05). Body mass index, fasting glucose and insulin levels, HOMA-IR index and total testosterone levels were higher in PCOS group (p < 0.05). The frequencies of D and I alleles were 45 (75%) and 15 (25%) for PCOS group and 44 (67%) and 22 (33%) for control group (p > 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the genotype and allele distributions between cases and control groups. HOMA-IR index was significantly higher in patients with PCOS with DD genotype than those with II genotype (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The ACE gene polymorphism was not associated with PCOS. However, the presence of D allele was associated with higher rate of insulin resistance in patients with PCOS.