Cardiovascular

The AGT M235T variant and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system parameters in a predominantly hypertensive elderly black South African cohort: a hypothesis-generating descriptive case series.

Grobler C, Oldewage-Theron W, Chalwe J • Molecular biology reports • 2026

Cohort PubMed 42909728 DOI 10.1007/s11033-026-12994-2

TL;DR

In 48 predominantly hypertensive, obese elderly black South Africans, the rs699 (M235T) variant showed no significant association with ACE, Ang I, Ang II, hypertension, BMI or gender, though the small sample means no meaningful statistical inferences can be drawn and the findings need validation in larger, more diverse populations.

Key Findings

Results

Nearly all participants carried the rs699 variant allele, with the GG genotype in 93.8% and AG in 4.2%.

The study included 48 participants aged ≥60 years from a black elderly South African population.
Genotype distribution was GG 93.8% and AG 4.2%, with the remainder not specified in the abstract.
The abstract describes most participants as 'possessing the rs699 variant'.

Results

Most participants had low ACE levels and elevated Ang II levels.

ACE levels were low in 64.6% of participants.
Ang II was elevated in the same percentage (64.6%).
The pattern was observed in a predominantly hypertensive elderly cohort.

Results

The majority of participants were classified as hypertensive and obese.

Hypertension was categorized using South African Hypertension Society (SAHS) 2019 standards.
Obesity was categorized using WHO guidelines.
Exact proportions are not given in the abstract.

Results

No significant associations were found between the rs699 variant and ACE, Ang I, Ang II, hypertension, BMI or gender.

The analysis used IBM SPSS version 27 and Python 3.14.
The authors conclude there is no significant association of rs699 with RAAS or cardiometabolic parameters in this population, warranting cautious interpretation.
The genotype distribution was highly skewed (mostly GG), limiting comparisons between genotypes.

Results

BMI showed sex-related differences in females.

This was the only difference noted among the examined variables.
The abstract does not report the effect size or p-value.

Conclusions

The authors state that the data do not permit meaningful statistical inference and call for validation in larger, more diverse populations.

The study is framed as a hypothesis-generating descriptive case series.
The sample size was 48 participants.
Findings are described as requiring cautious interpretation.

What This Means

This small study looked at whether a common genetic variant in the AGT gene, called rs699 or M235T, is linked to blood pressure-related hormones and body measures in 48 black South African adults aged 60 and older. The variant is thought to influence blood pressure through the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, a hormone system that helps regulate blood pressure. Most participants were hypertensive and obese. Nearly everyone carried the GG genotype (93.8%), and very few carried AG (4.2%). About two-thirds had low ACE levels and elevated Ang II. The researchers found no significant link between the variant and ACE, Ang I, Ang II, hypertension, body mass index or gender, though BMI differed by sex among females. The study is very small and almost everyone had the same genotype, so it could not meaningfully test whether the variant matters. The authors describe it as hypothesis-generating and say larger, more diverse studies are needed. This research suggests no clear conclusion can be drawn yet about this variant's role in hypertension in this population.

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Citation

Grobler C, Oldewage-Theron W, Chalwe J. (2026). The AGT M235T variant and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system parameters in a predominantly hypertensive elderly black South African cohort: a hypothesis-generating descriptive case series.. Molecular biology reports. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-026-12994-2

Key Findings

What This Means

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