The effect of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism on the depression and anxiety levels

Objective: We aimed to investigate the relationship between the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion (I) and deletion (D) polymorphism and the levels of anxiety and depression. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, which included the cases who admitted a university hospital cardiology department with the complaint of chest pain without cardiac etiology. It is well known that there is a strong connection between the ACE and hypertension (HT) and coronary arterial diseases (CAH) among peripheral mechanisms. Hence, the subjects included the study were preferred that have no cardiovascular diseases at that time. In this way, it was aimed to conclude that ACE might have an effect on the levels of the anxiety and depression via possible central mechanisms. The study group, which was total 39 patients, was constituted that 26 female with the mean age 51.92 +/- 9.78 and 13 male with the mean age 49.77 +/- 10.01. Their first examination was carried out in cardiology department and performed the necessary techniques. Then the subjects were given the Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory in psychiatry department. Serum samples of the group were transferred to genetic laboratory. The statistical analyses were performed by SPSS 15.0 for Windows. MANOVA, Post Hoc Bonferroni Test, Kruskal Wallis Test and Fischer's Exact Test were used with a related manner. Results: It was found that DID polymorphism that is related with the high ACE activity has a significant association between I/I polymorphism that is related with the low ACE activity and D/I polymorphism that is related with the moderate ACE activity in terms of BDI scores (p=0.010 and p=0.030, respectively). On the other hand, in the BAI scores, DID polymorphism was seen to be a significant association only with I/I polymorphism (p=0.002). Conclusion: It is well established that the ACE gene D polymorphism could be associated with the essential hypertension in the human. In our study, significant relation with the D genotyping and the levels of depression and anxiety were observed in a group, which have no cardiovascular problem detected. It could be suggested that the effect of the ACE system on the arterial pressure may have a role in a different manner from the central mechanisms which may be related the anxiety and depression etiology. (Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry 2009; 10:181-186)