Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphism (G894T) and diabetes mellitus (type II) among South Indians.

The objective of the study is to find out whether the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) G894T single-nucleotide polymorphism is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus in South Indian (Tamil) population. A total number of 260 subjects comprising 100 type 2 diabetic mellitus patients and 160 healthy individuals with no documented history of diabetes were included for the study. DNA was isolated, and eNOS G894T genotyping was performed using the polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction enzyme analysis using Ban II. The genotype distribution in patients and controls were compatible with the Hardy-Weinberg expectations (P > 0.05). Odds ratio indicates that the occurrence of mutant genotype (GT/TT) was 7.2 times (95% CI = 4.09-12.71) more frequent in the cases than in controls. Thus, the present study demonstrates that there is an association of endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (G894T) polymorphism with diabetes mellitus among South Indians.