Screening of Egyptian obese children and adolescents for insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in angiotensin-converting enzyme gene.

Background: /aims: The role of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism in the development of obesity and hypertension in children has not been widely studied. We aimed to screen Egyptian obese children and adolescents for insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the ACE gene.

Methods: One hundred forty-two children and adolescents were included (70 with simple obesity and 72 controls). Blood pressure was measured, and anthropometric parameters were assessed in all included children and adolescents. Fasting lipid profile, fasting glucose, and insulin were measured. DNA extraction and ACE I/D polymorphism genotyping were also performed.

Results: Obese children had a higher frequency of DD genotype (30% in obese versus 11.1% in controls,  = .01) and D alleles (61.8% in obese versus 48.6% in controls,  = .01). Obese children with hypertension and prehypertension had higher frequency of DD genotype than II genotype and higher D alleles than I alleles. DD genotype and D allele were independently associated with hypertension (OR: 9.86 and 11.57, respectively,  < .001), while dyslipidemia and insulin resistance were not associated with the ACE I/D gene polymorphism.

Conclusion: DD genotype and D-allele of the ACE gene polymorphism were associated with obesity and with hypertension and pre-hypertension in Egyptian children.