Seeking for associations of I/D polymorphism of ACE gene with self-reported work performance, memory, and cardiovascular health in a professional leadership community

Abstract

Introduction. Maintaining labor efficiency, working under conditions of stress and uncertainty, high level of requirements to the functional state of workers in various professions actualize the occupational health study of work performance. Methodological applications of predictive medicine and psychogenetics make it possible to identify specific hereditary (biological) predispositions of individuals, to carry out professional orientation of a person, to provide humanistic recommendations on occupation of a certain type of professional activity.
 The study aims to identify a correlation between ACE genotypes and work performance capability in individuals from a professional leadership community.
 Materials and methods. Individuals from a professional leadership community, after dividing into two cohorts consisting of entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs, were interviewed and genotyped for evidence of genotype-by-insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism associations of the angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) gene and health status. Answers to 4 questions characterized the state of work performance and memory, and another 4 questions characterized the cardiovascular system. The mean age was 37±1.7 years for entrepreneurs and 34.23±0.66 years for non-entrepreneurs. There were 44 females and 129 males among them.
 Results. Analysis of genotyping of 173 people (25 entrepreneurs and 148 non-entrepreneurs) revealed a significant deviation of actual frequencies of I and D alleles from theoretically expected values in the whole group of managers and between non-entrepreneurs (p=0.95, χ2>3.8). In all groups, there was a marked increase in the frequency of the I/I genotype at the expense of a decrease in the frequency of the D/D genotype compared to the literature data. A significant difference between D/D and I/D genotypes in work performance was found in entrepreneurs (p=0.9817), which coincides with a significant difference between their representatives by age (p>0.99). Contrary to expectations, representatives of the D/D genotype, at least entrepreneurs, demonstrated the most optimal level of functioning of the autonomic nervous system. No associations were found between the genotype for the ACE gene (rs4646994) and work performance and memory.
 Conclusion. In the total sample of leaders and among the subgroup of non-entrepreneurs, a strong and reliable change in the frequencies of alleles I and D was found compared to the theoretically expected (frequencies). There was a significant increase in the frequency of I/I genotype in all groups. The significant difference in the rates between the D/D and I/D groups coincides with a significant difference between their representatives in terms of age. According to the results of test answers, representatives of entrepreneurs of D/D genotype had the most optimal level of vegetative nervous system functioning.