Relationship between bone mineral density and angiotensin converting enzyme polymorphism in hypertensive postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between bone mineral density and insertion/deletion (I/D) angiotensin converting enzyme polymorphism (ACE) in hypertensive postmenopausal women. METHODS Blood and urine samples from the study subjects were analyzed for calcium metabolism related parameters. Densitometry studies were conducted in the lumbar spine (L2 to L4). The ACE polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Women with II genotype showed a higher intact parathyroid hormone (76 +/- 33 v 55 +/- 27 pg/mL and 52 +/- 26 pg/mL, P =.034) without a decrease in calciuria, and higher bone mineral density than women with ID and homozygotus deletion genotype (1.138 +/- 0.08 v 1.051 +/- 0.16 pg/mL and 1.053 +/- 0.16 pg/mL). CONCLUSIONS The ACE polymorphism could be one of the factors causing bone mass variations.