The ACE I/D polymorphism was a significant predictor of overweight and abdominal adiposity in men. DD homozygosity was associated with larger increases in body weight and blood pressure in aging persons, as well as with higher incidence of overweight.

No abstract

BARBA, GIANVINCENZO, ORNELLA RUSSO, ALFONSO SIANI, ROBERTO IACONE, EDUARDO FARINARO, MARIA CLARA GERARDI, PAOLA RUSSO, ELISABETTA DELLA VALLE, AND PASQUALE STRAZZULLO. Plasma leptin and blood pressure in men: graded association independent of body mass and fat pattern. Obes Res. 2003; 11:160 -166. Objective: The role of leptin in the association between body mass, central adiposity, and blood pressure (BP) is controversial. This study evaluated the relationship between leptin and BP in relation to body mass index (BMI) and fat distribution in a large sample of untreated male adults. Research Methods and Procedures:The study population was made up of 457 untreated male employees of the Olivetti factory in Naples. Plasma leptin, complete anthropometry, BP, and relevant biochemical variables were measured. Results: Log-transformed plasma leptin levels were directly associated with BMI (r ϭ 0.661, p Ͻ 0.001) and waist circumference (r ϭ 0.630; p Ͻ 0.001). Leptin also correlated with systolic (r ϭ 0.258) and diastolic (r ϭ 0.277) BP (p Ͻ 0.001). The association between leptin and BP was maintained after accounting for age, BMI (or waist circumference), log-insulin, and serum creatinine (p Ͻ 0.01); this association was stronger than that with BMI. Logistic regression analysis showed that an increased prevalence of hypertension (BP Ն 140 and/or 90 mm Hg) was associated with high plasma leptin levels when controlling for age and waist circumference (odds ratio, 1.99; 95%CI, 1.06 to 3.72) or for age and BMI (odds ratio, 1.92; 95%CI, 1.02 to 3.61). Discussion: A graded positive relationship between plasma leptin levels and BP was observed in this sample of untreated male adults. This association was independent of age, BMI, abdominal adiposity, and fasting plasma insulin. Moreover, elevated plasma leptin concentrations were associated with greater probability of hypertension, again independently of potential confounders.

In middle-aged men, a central distribution of body fat is associated with increased BP, independently of body mass index and insulin resistance, thus suggesting a key role of central adiposity in the full expression of the "metabolic syndrome."