Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism is associated with type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis.

The association of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism with type 2 diabetes was investigated in many studies with conflicting results. To clarify this conflict, we performed a meta-analysis on recent previous reports on ACE gene polymorphism and its correlation to type 2 diabetes. A total of 15,166 subjects from 24 studies were included in this meta-analysis. Summary odds ratios (ORs) were estimated. Potential sources of heterogeneity and bias were explored. The D variant was associated with a 14% increased risk of T2D relative to the I variant (OR 1.14; 95% CI: 1.04-1.24). In subgroup analysis, Caucasian and East Asians showed significant association. No association was found in the Turkish groups. No publication bias was observed in this meta-analysis by using the Egger method (tau = 1.63, P = 0.12), as well as the Begg's test (z = 1.66, P = 0.10). Cumulative meta-analysis for the allelic contrast showed a trend of association as information accumulated. These data suggested that the variant of ACE I/D had a moderate positive association with type 2 diabetes.