Glyoxalase I polymorphism: gene frequencies in two Italian populations

The gene frequencies for human red cell glyoxalase I have been determined in 1,222 unrelated subjects from two areas of Central Italy (Rome and Viareggio). No significant difference has been found between the two samples. Therefore the data have been pooled. The cumulative GLO1 gene frequency estimate is 0.376 +/- 0.010. This gene frequency is comparable to that reported for another sample from Rome and very similar to that found in Naples while it is significantly lower than those reported for Northern Italy (Milan and Genoa) and for the Northern European Caucasian populations studied so far.