Methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase and angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphisms related to overweight/obesity among Saudi subjects from Qassim Region.

BACKGROUND: This work was planned to check for the association of polymorphisms related to methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) genes with overweight/obesity among Saudi subjects from Qassim region. METHODS: This work included 130 subjects having overweight or obesity and 111 normal controls. Their age mean +/- SD was 27 +/- 9.8 and 24 +/- 8.8 years respectively. Their DNA was analyzed for polymorphisms of MTHFR; 677C/T and 1298 A/C and ACE; I/D genes using real-time PCR. RESULTS: Genotype and allele frequencies of studied polymorphisms in cases of overweight/obesity showed no significant statistical difference compared to that of controls. However, on analysis of body mass index (BMI), cases showed slightly higher but statistically nonsignificant mean +/- SD values among those carrying the mutant MTHFR 677 T allele (CT + TT vs. CC, 30.7 +/- 4.5 vs. 29.9 +/- 4.9), 1298 C allele (AC + CC vs. AA, 29.9 +/- 4.1 vs. 29.7 +/- 5.5) and ACE D allele (ID + DD vs. II, 30.0 +/- 5.1 vs. 29.1 +/- 2.8). In addition controls having the DD and ID genotypes showed higher statistically significant values of BMI than those of the II genotype (22.0 +/- 1.9, 21.7 +/- 2.6 and 19.5 +/- 2.3 respectively, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There is no solid association of polymorphisms related to MTHFR and ACE genes with non-complicated overweight or obesity among Saudi subjects from Qassim Region.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphisms among Saudi population from Qassim region.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension and cardiac diseases are multifactorial disorders with genetic background determined by multiple gene polymorphisms. METHODS: This work included 273 healthy unrelated subjects ethnically belonging to the Qassim region. Their age ranged from 18 to 60 years, with a median age of 20 years. They included 152 (55.7%) men and 121 (44.3%) women. Their DNAs were analyzed for genetic polymorphisms of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR; 677C/T and 1298 A/C) as well as angiotensin-converting enzyme genes (ACE; insertion/deletion [I/D]) using real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Carriers of the mutant MTHFR 677 T allele (CT + TT) and that of the 1298 C allele (CC + AC) constituted 33.7% and 48.9% of studied subjects, respectively, whereas carriers of ACE gene mutant D allele (DD + ID) represented 93.3% of subjects. The allele frequencies of MTHFR 677T, 1298C, and ACE D alleles were 18.7%, 29.45%, and 72.5%, respectively. Haplotype analysis of characterized chromosomes revealed that 2.5% were likely to carry the three mutant alleles together, 30.91% were likely to carry two of the three mutant alleles, and 51.92% were likely to carry one mutant allele. CONCLUSION: The Saudi population from the Qassim region is a carrier of a relatively large number of genetic alleles predisposing them to hypertension and cardiac diseases. This gives a warning to local health authorities for adoption of competent programs for prevention as well as early diagnosis and management.