Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene II genotype protects against the development of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is one of the complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that decreases the quality of life of T2DM patients. Very few studies have found an association between the development and progression of DPN in T2DM and angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphisms. Methods: Using gene‐specific primers in a polymerase chain reaction, the presence of ACE I/D polymorphisms was screened for in 276 T2DM patients with DPN, 496 T2DM patients without DPN, and 331 control (non‐diabetic) subjects. Results: The distribution of the I/D genotypes was in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The II genotype was significantly more prevalent in T2DM patients without DPN than the DD genotype (P < 0.05); however, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of the II and DD genotypes in T2DM patients with DPN (P = 0.78). Conclusion: The II genotype of the ACE gene has a protective effect against the development of DPN in T2DM patients. This suggests a role for the renin–angiotensin system in modulating neuropathy in T2DM.