Deletion polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene is associated with postprandial hyperglycaemia in individuals undergoing general check-up

1. Deletion polymorphism, DD, of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) ge ne is reported to be related to cardiovascular disease, which is frequently based on insulin resistance. 2. To clarify the relationship between the ACE genotype DD and plasma gluco se increases after an oral glucose load, we performed 75 g oral glucose tol erance test (OGTT) in 301 non-diabetic men (age range 30-60 years) undergoi ng general check-up. 3. Insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the ACE gene was explored using a polymerase chain reaction. The frequency of the II, ID and DD genotypes was 0.43, 0.43 and 0.14, respectively. 4. There were no differences in baseline clinical characteristics between s ubjects with each ACE genotype. 5. The mean (+/- SEM) plasma glucose level at 60 min of the OGTT was signif icantly higher in subjects with the DD genotype (170.8 +/- 6.9 mg/dL) than in subjects with either the II or ID genotype (mean value for two groups 15 6.6 +/- 2.7 mg/dL; P < 0.05). Moreover, the mean percentage change of plasm a glucose after 60 min of the OGTT, a marker of plasma glucose increase, wa s significantly higher in individuals with the DD genotype than in individu als with either the II or ID genotypes. 6. In contrast, the mean fasting plasma glucose level, the plasma glucose l evel at 120 min, the glucose response area and the fasting insulin level we re not different between individuals with the DD genotype and individuals w ith other genotypes. 7. In conclusion, subjects with the DD genotype showed transiently higher l evels of plasma glucose after an oral glucose load than subjects with other genotypes. Further studies are required to determine whether the associati on between ACE genotype and postprandial hyperglycaemia influences the inci dence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus.