Background: The possible effects of the uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) gene -3826A/G polymorphism on hypertension (HT) have yet to be elucidated.
Methods: A total of 578 Japanese subjects (231 males and 347 females, mean age 58.4 years) were enrolled in the study to investigate the association between HT and the -3826A/G polymorphism by genomic PCR and Bcl1-restriction fragment length polymorphism methods.
Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis for HT, adjusted for genotype (recessive model, AA+AG vs. GG) and other covariates such as cardiovascular risk factors [e.g., smoking, body mass index (BMI), dyslipidemia and diabetes] showed age [odds ratio (OR) 1.11 (95% confidence interval 1.08-1.13)] and BMI [OR 1.13 (1.06-1.21)] as independent significant factors. In the subgroup analysis, as well as age and BMI, GG genotype [OR 2.32 (1.08-4.99)] was also an independent significant factor for HT in males. Similarly, as well as age and BMI, GG genotype [OR 1.89 (1.00-3.57)] was also an independent significant factor for HT in the relatively older subgroup (> or =60 years).
Conclusions: The results suggest that the GG genotype may be associated with the presence of HT in Japanese males and older subjects. Further investigation is needed to confirm our hypothesis.