Association of angiotensin-converting enzyme I/D polymorphism and apolipoprotein B with cardiometabolic abnormalities among young adults: a pilot study from Delhi

Abstract

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism and elevated apolipoprotein B (apoB) are important risk factors for several cardiometabolic abnormalities. However, much less attention has been given to the relationship between these risk factors and cardiometabolic abnormalities among young adults. Considering this gap, the present study explored the association of ACE I/D polymorphism and apoB with cardiometabolic abnormalities among young adults of Delhi, India. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among young adults (aged 18–30) of either sex residing in Delhi, India. A total of 330 individuals were invited to participate in the study, and data on the socio-demographic variables were collected using a pre-tested interview schedule. Somatometric and physiological measurements were obtained using standard protocols. However, blood sample collection and biochemical and genetic analyses could successfully be performed for 178 individuals. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were estimated using Erba XL-640 biochemical analyzer. LDL and TG values were used to calculate apoB levels. Genotyping for ACE I/D polymorphism was performed by allele-specific PCR amplification followed by electrophoresis. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS v.20. Results: ACE I/D polymorphism was not found to be associated with hypertension, obesity, and abnormal FBG, TG, and HDL levels. However, DD and ID genotypes and D allele, with II as the reference genotype, significantly reduced the risk for high TC (OR, p value = 0.14, 0.01*; 0.29, 0.04*; 0.22, < 0.01*, respectively) and high LDL (OR, p value = 0.17, 0.03*; 0.20, 0.03*; 0.19, < 0.01*, respectively). Except for abnormal FBG, the prevalence of all the studied cardiometabolic abnormalities was significantly higher in the 4th quartile of apoB when compared to other quartiles. Linear regression model revealed a significant positive association of apoB levels with diastolic blood pressure, studied obesity parameters, TC, TG, and LDL levels. Conclusion: The D allele of ACE I/D polymorphism was not associated with most of the studied cardiometabolic abnormalities in the present study. Further, the association of high apoB with cardiometabolic abnormalities hints toward the importance of apoB in the early diagnosis of CVDs.