Objective To study the relationship between ischemic stroke and gene polymorphism of an-giotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), apolipoprotein E (APOE) and methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) among the population of Zhuang nationality in western Gui. Methods We directly sequenced ACE, APOE and MTHFR genes in 149 cases of ischemic stroke and 109 cases of normal people in western Gui. χ2 test was used to measure the relationship between gene polymorphism and ischemic stroke. Hardy-Weinberg genetic equilibrium test was used to evaluate the reliability of these data. Results In the ischemic stroke group, 62 cases, 22 cases and 65 cases carried II genetype, DD genetype and ID genetype in ACE. χ2 test showed no relationship between ACE gene polymorphism and ischemic stroke. In analysis of the polymorpism of APOE in the ischemic stroke and control group, no relationship between APOE gene polymorphism and ischemic stroke was found by χ2 test. MTFHR gene polymorphism was significantly related with ischemic stroke by χ2 test (P = 0.019). Conclusion Polymorphism of gene MTFHR but neither ACE nor APOE is significantly associated with ischemic stroke.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are a kind of nutrients mainly derived from deep-sea fish, and their role in cardiocerebrovascular diseases has been extensively studied. This article reviews the correlation between omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the risk and outcome of ischemic stroke and its mechanism of action.