Health-conscious individuals for decades now have watched their diet, made lifestyle changes, and tailored exercise routines, all as a means of preventing and controlling hypertension (high blood pressure). Well, a new study from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore has produced findings that have identified a gene that may well play a significant role in the development of high blood pressure regardless of such preventative measures.
The specific gene variant is one that controls how the kidneys process salt, and approximately 20% of the adult white population has this gene, and individuals with the gene variant have been shown to had slight increases in blood pressure, compared to those with the more common gene.
The study used gene samples from 542 Amish adults from an Old Order Amish community. The Amish group was selected because they are genetically homogenous, have similar diets and lifestyles, do not make regular doctors visits and were thus unlikely to be receiving treatment for high blood pressure, and were all descended from a small group of settlers intermingled with no outside groups. The research was confirmed through analysis of genetic data from another group of Amish, plus additional groups of Caucasians in both the United States and Europe.
Genes that might contribute to high blood pressure have been difficult to identify due to so many outside factors influencing blood pressure., but the study showed a strong association between a particular version of the STK39 gene and a higher incidence of hypertension.
Additional research is planned to determine the effect of medication and lifestyle adjustments on individuals with variations of this gene.
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