Prevalence of the angiotensin I converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism, plasma angiotensin converting enzyme activity, and left ventricular mass in a normotensive Chilean population

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of the different alleles of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and associated plasma ACE activity, as well as cardiac echocardiographic structure, in a healthy Chilean population. We selected 117 healthy normotensive subjects (aged 45 to 60 years, middle socioeconomic status, nonobese, and nondiabetic) from a population-based study concerning the prevalence of risk factors for chronic diseases (Conjunto de Acciones Para la Reduccion Multifactorial de las Enfermedades no Transmisibles [CARMEN]). The frequencies of the I and D alleles were 0.57 and 0.43, respectively. Mean plasma ACE activity was 15.3 ± 3.9 U/mL. Compared with subjects with the II genotype, plasma ACE activity was significantly higher in subjects with the ID and DD genotypes with no difference between them. No correlation was observed between blood pressure and plasma ACE activity. Among the three different genotypes ther