Angiotensin converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism and obesity risk in northern Lebanese population

Introduction Obesity is a growing public health concern in Lebanon. Angiotensin-converting enzyme ( ACE ) plays a critical role in the renin-angiotensin system, affecting blood pressure and metabolism. Genetic variations in the ACE gene, particularly the insertion (I)/ deletion (D) polymorphism, have been linked to obesity risk in various populations. This study aimed to investigate the association between the ACE I/D polymorphism and obesity in a sample of North Lebanese population. Materials and methods A total of 192 participants were enrolled and categorized into “obese” and “non-obese” groups. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood, and the ACE I/D polymorphism was identified using polymerase chain reaction. Data were further stratified by age and exercise frequency. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 27. Results Genotype frequencies were D/D (45.8%), I/D (39.6%), and I/I (14.6%), with a minor allele frequency of 0.34. No significant association was found between the ACE I/D polymorphism and obesity in terms of genotypic and allelic distributions, even after adjusting for confounding factors and stratifying the data. No significant gender-related differences were also observed. Conclusions These findings suggest that the ACE I/D polymorphism may not significantly influence obesity risk in this population. Larger studies are needed to clarify the genetic basis of obesity in Lebanon.