ACE gene and physical activity, blood pressure, and hypertension: a population study in Finland.

The study evaluated the association of the insertion/deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene (ACE I/D) with self-reported moderate-intensity leisure time physical activity (MILTPA), arterial blood pressure (BP) and history of hypertension (HT). A representative population-based sample of 721 middle-aged adults (358 women) from two areas of Finland was genotyped for the ACE I/D. After exclusion criteria were applied, 455 subjects (288 women) were selected for the analysis. The distribution of the ACE I/D genotypes did not differ significantly among frequent vs. nonfrequent MILTPA groups (chi(2) = 2.556; df = 2; P value = 0.279). The main predictors of BP were male gender, age, body mass index, and arterial pulse. Additionally, tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption also had a significant main effect on diastolic BP. HT was significantly more frequent in subjects with obesity, family history of cardiovascular disease, or lower educational level. As for BP, neither ACE I/D nor MILTPA was associated with HT. The study confirmed recent reports from population-based studies of no association between ACE I/D and physical fitness. The study also confirmed a lack of association between ACE I/D and BP or HT.