Methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase and angiotensin converting
enzyme gene polymorphisms related to overweight/obesity among Saudi subjects
from Qassim Region
Affiliations: Molecular Biology Research Center, College of
Medicine, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia | Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine,
Qassim University, Saudi Arabia | Clinical Pathology Department, College of Medicine,
Qassim University, Saudi Arabia
Note: [] Corresponding author: Prof Dr. Ahmad Settin, Prof of Pediatrics
and Genetics, Qassim University, BO 6655 Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia. Tel.:
+966 6 3851317; Mobile: +966 5 56040530; Fax: +966 6 3801228; E-mail:
[email protected]; [email protected]
Abstract: 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.
Keywords: Obesity, Saudi population, MTHFR, ACE, gene polymorphism, Qassim Region
