The G⁸⁹⁴-T⁸⁹⁴ polymorphism in the gene for endothelial nitric oxide synthase and blood pressure in lead-exposed workers from Korea

We evaluated whether the G⁸⁹⁴-T⁸⁹⁴ polymorphism in exon 7 of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene is associated with blood pressure or modifies the relation between lead dose and blood pressure in 803 lead workers in Korea. A total of 84.9% of individuals were homozygous GG, 14.4% heterozygous GT, and 0.8% homozygous TT. The T⁸⁹⁴ allele was not significantly associated with systolic or diastolic blood pressure. The prevalence of hypertension did not differ by T⁸⁹⁴ status (OR = 0.82; 95% CI = 0.50-1.37). There was no evidence of effect modification by eNOS genotype on relations of lead dose with blood pressure. These data provide no evidence that the T⁸⁹⁴ allele is associated with higher blood pressure or modifies the association of lead dose with blood pressure.