heart & blood vessels

ABO

The Role of the Blood Type Gene in High Blood Pressure (ABO)

Written by Jasmine Foster, BSc, BEd on January 13th, 2021

The ABO gene determines blood type in humans and may affect other health markers. How is it linked to blood pressure? Read on to find out.

Summary

ABO is the major gene that determines blood type in humans. Variants of ABO may play a role in blood pressure by increasing levels of the inflammatory protein E-selectin. Lifestyle, diet, and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of these variants by reducing E-selectin and other markers of inflammation in the blood vessels.

ABO and Blood Pressure

ABO is the major gene that determines blood type in humans. Several variants combine to determine blood type, the major ones being rs8176719, rs8176746, and rs8176747. Using these SNPs, researchers can identify whether someone has an A, B, AB, or O blood type [R].

Researchers have known for decades that blood type has far-reaching associations with health markers, including [R, R, R]:

Blood fat levels
Blood pressure
Heart disease
Healthy aging

People with O blood type may have some protection from some viral infections, but also develop high blood pressure at a higher rate than any other blood type [R, R].

There are also variants in the ABO gene that do not affect conventional blood type, but do affect health measures. One variant, rs579459, does not contribute to ABO blood type but is strongly associated with blood pressure and cholesterol [R].

Each allele of the rs579459 variant is associated with different potential health problems: the ‘T’ allele is linked with higher blood pressure, but lower blood cholesterol. The reason for this difference is not well understood, but may have to do with the expression of E-selectin, an inflammatory molecule that makes white blood cells stick to blood vessel walls [R, R, R].

Summary

The ABO gene determines blood type in humans. It also affects markers of health like blood fat levels and blood pressure, possibly due to variation in inflammatory E-selectin levels.

Your ABO Results for Blood Pressure

SNP Table

variant	genotype	frequency	risk allele
rs579459

ABO rs579459 [R]

‘T’ = Associated with relatively higher blood pressure
‘C’ = Associated with relatively lower blood pressure
The ‘C’ allele may alter the activity of E-selectin, leading to a decrease in blood pressure [R, R, R].

Recommendations

A Note on Blood Group Diets

Some people believe that certain diets are better for different blood types. The so-called “blood type diet” or “blood group diet” was popularized by P. J. D’Adamo in his 1996 book Eat Right For Your Type. However, while these specialized diets have been associated with positive health outcomes, their benefits were not specific to any single blood type, and none has been found to decrease blood pressure [R].

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Obese people tend to have significantly higher E-selectin levels than people at a healthy weight. Furthermore, obese patients undergoing weight loss programs show decreasing E-selectin levels over time [R, R].

Being overweight or obese, especially if accompanied by excessive visceral fat, is a major risk factor for high blood pressure. Excessive body fat activates the fight-or-flight nervous system, worsens kidney function, increases damage to the blood vessels, and causes insulin resistance, all of which increases blood pressure [R, R].

Multiple studies show that interventions with increased physical activity and special diets causing a ~5-kg weight loss lower systolic (by ~4.5 mmHg) and diastolic (by ~3.4 mmHg) blood pressure. As expected, losing more weight led to larger blood pressure reduction [R, R].

Summary

People who are overweight or obese have higher E-selectin levels and tend to have higher blood pressure than those who are at a healthy weight.

Avoid Cigarettes

Cigarette smoke has been found to increase E-selectin levels on contact with some cell types [R].

Smoking causes an immediate but reversible increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure mainly due to nicotine. Over time, smoking gradually damages the blood vessels and raises central blood pressure. As a result, it increases the risk of organ damage, especially in people with high baseline blood pressure [R, R, R, R].

Electronic cigarettes may also raise blood pressure, especially if they contain nicotine. However, switching from tobacco smoking to electronic cigarettes may improve blood pressure regulation [R, R].

In children and adolescents, passive exposure to tobacco smoke significantly increases systolic blood pressure [R].

Summary

Cigarette smoke exposure may increase E-selectin. It also damages the blood vessels and raises blood pressure over time.

Increase Potassium Intake

Potassium lowers arterial blood pressure in people with hypertension, especially if they consume a lot of sodium, but not in those with normal pressure values [R, R, R].

Reductions in blood pressure associated with potassium intake may rely on E-selectin, according to a study of Chinese patients with high blood pressure [R].

An increase in potassium intake of at least 0.78 g/day is associated with a significant reduction in systolic (by 4.9 mm Hg) and diastolic (by 2.7 mm Hg) blood pressure [R].

The blood pressure-lowering effect of potassium may be related to its diuretic ability, and activity in the nervous system, blood vessels, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and natriuretic hormone.

Summary

Potassium may reduce blood pressure through interactions with E-selectin.

Melatonin

Supplementing with melatonin may decrease levels of E-selectin and related proteins, according to a study of rats with high blood pressure [R].

A meta-analysis of 7 studies involving 221 people with nocturnal hypertension found that supplementation with controlled-release (but not fast-release) melatonin lowered systolic (by 6.1 mmHg) and diastolic (by 3.5 mmHg) blood pressure. Another meta-analysis of 8 studies and 743 people with metabolic disorders also found melatonin effective at lowering blood pressure [R, R].

Like sleep, blood pressure has circadian rhythmicity. It increases in the morning and decreases at night. Melatonin shows the opposite pattern, indicating that it may have a role in lowering blood pressure at night. In line with this, activation of the melatonin receptors MT1 and MT2 widens the blood vessels [R].

Summary

Melatonin supplementation may decrease blood pressure by reducing E-selectin levels.

Jasmine Foster

BSc, BEd

Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.

Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.

Disclaimer

The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other official medical body. This information is presented for educational purposes only, and may not be used to diagnose or treat any illness or disease.

Also keep in mind that the “Risk Score” presented in this post is based only on a select number of SNPs, and therefore only represents a small portion of your total risk as an individual. Furthermore, these analyses are based primarily on associational studies, which do not necessarily imply causation. Finally, many other (non-genetic) factors can also play a significant role in the development of a disease or health condition — therefore, carrying any of the risk-associated genotypes discussed in this post does not necessarily mean you are at increased risk of developing a major health condition.

Always consult your doctor before acting on any information or recommendations discussed in this post — especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have been officially diagnosed with a medical condition.

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The Role of the Blood Type Gene in High Blood Pressure (ABO)

Summary

ABO and Blood Pressure

Summary

Your ABO Results for Blood Pressure

SNP Table

Recommendations

A Note on Blood Group Diets

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Summary

Avoid Cigarettes

Summary

Increase Potassium Intake

Summary

Melatonin

Summary

Disclaimer

More heart & blood vessels blogs

Content

Unlock Personalized Results And So Much More!

Essential Bundle

Men's Health Month 10% Off

Essential

Bundle

Men's Health Month 15% Off

Men's Health Month 30% Off

Ultimate Bundle

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