Association of a polymorphism in the ornithine decarboxylase gene with whole blood polyamine concentrations in a non-smoking healthy population

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is the rate-limiting key enzyme in the biosynthesis of polyamines which have been confirmed to possess potent antioxidant and antiglycating properties. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship of the ODC polymorphism and circulating whole blood polyamine concentrations. The study subjects were non-smoking, healthy men (n = 30) and women (n = 30) aged 55-69 years with equal numbers of AA, GA, and GG genotypes of the ODC gene, who were randomly recruited from 607 health checkup examinees. The whole blood polyamines (spermidine and spermine) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and were adjusted for hematocrit. The difference in the adjusted polyamines across the ODC gene was statistically tested using analysis of covariance. Women homozygous for the A-allele showed significantly higher spermidine levels than those with other genotypes. No such association was found among men, and spermine showed no association with the ODC genotype. In conclusion, the ODC polymorphism is significantly associated with whole blood polyamines in women. The ODC gene seems to be expressed more actively among female A-allele homozygotes than women carrying the G-allele.