In the INTERGENE study, it was found that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the NOS3 gene were associated with both coronary heart disease and hypertension. Further research has also shown that these SNPs are linked to an increased risk of metabolic syndrome and other cardiovascular disease risk markers. Additionally, a significant gene-nutrient interaction was observed between the NOS3 SNP and a potential further increase in cardiovascular disease risk. This is significant as NOS3, a key gene involved in blood vessel relaxation, displays a large number of genetic polymorphisms. These NOS3 SNPs are then genotyped in both patients and healthy controls, indicating the potential role of genetic variations in increasing the risk for cardiovascular diseases. However, it is still uncertain whether the NOS3 SNP is a direct genetic risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.