Description of SNP ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme): Changes can occur that affect the activity of the ACE gene that can lead to elevated blood pressure. In animal studies imbalances in this pathway were also correlated with increased anxiety and decreases in learning and memory. Increased ACE activity can also throw off the essential mineral balance in your system due to decreased excretion of sodium in the urine and increased excretion of potassium in the urine. This reaction is also tied to the stress response such that situations of chronic stress can result in additional sodium retention and increased potassium excretion. This excess potassium is excreted provided that the kidneys are functioning properly. In the event that kidney function is compromised, it can lead to the retention of potassium in the body. ACE is a deletion, it is not a SNP. As a consequence it does not associate in the same manner that the other single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) on this panel do, so the inheritance pattern of the ACE deletion may not distribute in the same manner as single base changes.