Association of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme and Glutathione S-Transferase Gene Polymorphisms with Body Mass Index among Hypertensive North Indians

Functional constituents of plant-based foods boost immunity against acute and chronic disorders

Plant-based foods are becoming an increasingly frequent topic of discussion, both scientific and social, due to the dissemination of information and exchange of experiences in the media. Plant-based diets are considered beneficial for human health due to the supply of many valuable nutrients, including health-promoting compounds. Replacing meat-based foods with plant-based products will provide many valuable compounds, including antioxidants, phenolic compounds, fibers, vitamins, minerals, and some ω3 fatty acids. Due to their high nutritional and functional composition, plant-based foods are beneficial in acute and chronic diseases. This article attempts to review the literature to present the most important data on nutrients of plant-based foods that can then help in the prevention of many diseases, such as different infections, such as coronavirus disease, pneumonia, common cold and flu, asthma, and bacterial diseases, such as bronchitis. A properly structured plant-based diet not only provides the necessary nutrients but also can help in the prevention of many diseases.

Association of angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion (ACE I/D) and angiotensinogen (AGT M235T) polymorphisms with the risk of obesity in a Tunisian population

Objective:

This study aims to determine whether genetic variants in ACE I/D and AGT M235T are associated with overweight-obesity and body mass index (BMI) in a Tunisian population.

Methods:

We designed an age- and sex-matched case-control study. The height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated. A total of 259 overweight-obese patients and 369 healthy controls were genotyped for the ACE I/D and AGT M235T genes using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Results:

ACE I/D and AGT M235T genes were associated with BMI, waist circumference and overweight-obesity (p⩽0.001). In an additive model, the I and the M alleles in ACE and AGT variants, respectively, were associated with a lower BMI: –1.45 and −2.29 units, respectively. ACE I/D genotypes were associated with dyslipidemia; AGT M235T genotypes with dyslipidemia and total cholesterol.

Conclusion:

These data suggest that variations in ACE I/D and AGT M235T affect the risk of overweight-obesity, BMI and dyslipidemia, and could point to a key molecular pathway of metabolic syndrome and its related comorbidities.

Glutathione S-Transferase M1 and T1 polymorphisms and hypertension risk: an updated meta-analysis

Recently, Glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1), glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1), and their interaction with hypertension risk have been focused on. However, the results of previous studies have been inconsistent. Hence, the present meta-analysis was performed to explore the association. Twenty-two case-control studies met the inclusion criteria for GSTM1 (including 3577 hypertension cases and 3784 controls), twenty-two for GSTT1 (including 3741 cases and 4444 controls), and nine for their combined effects (including 1073 cases and 781 controls). Pooled analyses on the association between GSTM1 present/null polymorphism and hypertension risk were observed to be insignificant in overall and subgroup analyses. The individual who carries the GSTT1 null-genotype had a statistically significant overall population (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.60), Indians (OR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.08, 5.59), and hospital-based controls (OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.21, 1.94). For the GSTM1-GSTT1 interaction, we found that the GSTM1/GSTT1 double-null-genotype was significantly associated with hypertension risks (double-null vs. double-present: OR = 2.68, 95% CI: 1.06, 6.81). To summarize, this meta-analysis indicates that Indians with the GSTT1 null-genotype has a raised hypertension risks; the GSTM1 null/GSTT1 null-genotype is association with raised hypertension risks, while the GSTM1 null-genotype is not associated with hypertension risks. In addition, I² > 75% cannot be eliminated for GSTM1 in Indians or Asians, hence, it will be very important to explore the GSTM1 null-genotype and hypertension susceptibility in Indians and Asians for a large new sample, on population-based control study.