Lifestyle intervention might easily improve blood pressure in hypertensive men with the C genotype of angiotensin II type 2 receptor gene

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Recent studies have reported an association of the angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) 3123Cytosine/Adenine (3123C/A) polymorphism with essential hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the AT2R 3123C/A polymorphism affects blood pressure for free-living hypertensive men during a 5-month intervention period. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The subjects were free-living hypertensive Japanese men aged 40 to 75 years who agreed to intervention in the period from 2004 to 2011. Detection of the AT2R 3123C/A polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction. The dietary intervention was designed to decrease salt level and to increase potassium level through cooking instructions and self-monitoring of the diet. The exercise session consisted of activities such as stretching, resistance training, and walking. Blood pressure, urinary sodium and potassium excretion, dietary and lifestyle data, and non-fasting venous blood sample were collected at baseline and after the intervention period. RESULTS: Thirty nine subjects were eligible for participation and the follow-up rate was 97.4%. The C allele proportion was 57.9%. AT2R 3123C/A polymorphism was X-chromosome-linked, therefore we analyzed the C and A genotypes. At baseline, no significant differences were observed between the genotype groups. After the intervention, there were no significant differences in lifestyle habit between the groups. Nevertheless, the estimated salt excretion (g/day) was significantly decreased only in the C genotype (13.0-10.3, P = 0.031). No significant change was observed in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (mmHg) in the A genotype, but a significant decrease was observed in the C genotype (150.0-141.5, P = 0.024). CONCLUSTIONS: In the C genotype, it might be easy to improve SBP through lifestyle intervention in free-living hypertensive Japanese men, however generalization could not be achieved by the small sample size.

The relationship between gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), bilirubin (Bil) and small dense low-density lipoprotein (sdLDL) in asymptomatic subjects attending a clinic for screening dyslipidaemias

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), bilirubin (Bil) and small dense low-density lipoprotein (sdLDL) particles are each known to be risk markers for cardiometabolic diseases which are characterised by oxidative stress conditions. These markers are connected with the oxidative milieu; however, the association between GGT, Bil, and sdLDL has been hardly examined. This hospital-based study investigated the association between GGT and sdLDL, as well as the association between Bil and sdLDL, in asymptomatic subjects.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>Cardiometabolic variables, GGT, Bil and the mean LDL particle size were measured in 100 asymptomatic subjects attending a clinic for screening dyslipidaemias (36 men and 64 women, mean age 64 years). Correlation analyses of the association between the mean LDL particle size and other variables, such as GGT and Bil, were performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean (standard deviation) levels of GGT, Bil, and the mean LDL particle size were found to be 21.7 (8.3) IU/L, 14.0 (4.3) μmol/L, and 26.7 (0.6) nm, respectively. An univariate correlation test showed both a significant inverse correlation between the mean LDL particle size and GGT (r = - 0.33, P <0.01) and a significant positive correlation between the mean LDL particle size and Bil (r = 0.32, P <0.01). A multiple regression analysis revealed similarly significant results of their correlations, independent of the other cardiometabolic variables.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These results suggest that the correlation of GGT and sdLDL, as well as that of Bil and sdLDL, may be cooperatively associated with cardiometabolic processes. Further research is warranted in order to confirm the observed association.</p>