The Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Genetic Variant rs5068 Is Associated With a Favorable Cardiometabolic Phenotype in a Mediterranean Population

We hypothesized that the minor allele of the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) genetic variant rs5068 is associated with a favorable cardiometabolic phenotype in a general Mediterranean population. We genotyped a random sample of the residents of Ventimiglia di Sicilia, Sicily, for rs5068. Genotype frequencies of rs5068 are AA, 93.5%; AG, 6.4%; and GG, 0.1%. All subsequent analyses are AA versus AG+GG. After adjusting for age and sex, the minor G allele is associated with lower BMI (estimate [SE]: -1.7 kg/m(2) [0.8], P = 0.04). In the AG+GG group, males with HDL cholesterol levels