Human angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene and endurance performance

Abstract

Human physical performance is strongly influenced by genetic factors. A variation in the structure of the human angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) gene has been reported in which the insertion (I) variant is associated with lower ACE levels than the deletion (D) gene. We have previously reported that the I variant was associated with improved endurance performance in high-altitude mountaineers and British Army recruits. We now examine this genotype distribution in 91 British Olympic-standard runners (79 Caucasians). DNA was extracted from the buccal cells contained in 10 ml of saline mouthwash donated by the subjects, and the I and D variants of the ACE gene were identified by PCR amplification of the polymorphic region. There was an increasing frequency of the I allele with distance run [0.35, 0.53, and 0.62 for </=200 m (n = 20), 400-3,000 m (n = 37), and >/=5,000 m (n = 34), respectively; P = 0.009 for linear trend]. Among 404 Olympic-standard athletes from 19 other mixed sporting disciplines (in which endurance performance was not necessarily a key factor), the I allele did not differ significantly from that found in control subjects: 0.50 vs. 0.49 (P = 0.526). These results support a positive association of the I allele with elite endurance performance.

Hand grip strength: A phenotype suitable for identifying genetic variants affecting mid‐ and late‐life physical functioning

“…Not many candidate genes associated with physical functioning have been identified. One suggestion has been a polymorphism in the gene encoding the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme, but the association was found only in small samples of young healthy males and elite athletes [Montgomery et al, 1998;Williams et al, 2000;Gayagay et al, 1998;Myerson et al, 1999], and not in all studies [Taylor et al, 1999;Rankinen et al, 2000a,b] and not among the elderly [Frederiksen et al, 2002]. A polymorphism in the gene encoding a receptor for vitamin D has been associated with grip strength in postmenopausal women, but only in a nonobese subgroup [Geusens et al, 1997].…”

“…However, only a few specific genetic variants have been suggested to affect some of the phenotypes reflecting physical functioning. The findings from these and other studies have mostly been based on selected populations [i.e., young healthy males and elite athletes; Montgomery et al, 1998;Williams et al, 2000;Gayagay et al, 1998;Myerson et al, 1999] and have not been consistent [Taylor et al, 1999;Rankinen et al, 2000a,b;Frederiksen et al, 2002], or the association was confined to subgroups within the study sample [Geusens et al, 1997]. With respect to physical functioning, various different phenotypes [e.g., self-report; Christensen et al, 2000], a proportion of fast-twitch and slow-twitch fibers in skeletal muscle biopsies [Simoneau and Bouchard, 1995], magnetic resonance imaging of muscle mass [Gibbons et al, 1998], and measurement of maximal aerobic power (VO 2-max ) [Sundet et al, 1994] have been used in different studies, all of which suggested a genetic component to physical functioning.…”

Prediction of Severe Hypoglycaemia by Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Activity and Genotype in Type 1 Diabetes

“…Based on the association between the I allele of the ACE gene and superior performance capacity in elite endurance athletes [10,11,12], the relation between serum ACE activity and risk of severe hypoglycaemia could be explained by superior cognitive or overall performance of subjects with low ACE activity during hypoglycaemia. This is supported by the fact that measures of mild and biochemical hypoglycaemia were not affected by serum ACE activity, indicating that subjects, independent of their ACE activity, experience hypoglycaemia with equal frequency but that those with low ACE activity to a greater extent are able to compensate the condition by self-treatment or maintenance of near-normal function until the next pre-scheduled meal.…”

“…In healthy humans both antecedent exercise and antecedent hypoglycaemia attenuate symptoms and hormonal counterregulation during subsequent hypoglycaemia [7,8]. In elite endurance athletes, who like patients with Type 1 diabetes spend considerable time with limited fuel availability, performance capacity has been associated with the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) genotype as the insertion (I) allele of the ACE gene that confers low ACE activity, compared to the deletion (D) allele [9], has been linked to superior performance capacity [10,11,12].…”

Living high training low induces physiological cardiac hypertrophy accompanied by down-regulation and redistribution of the renin-angiotensin system

“…Previous studies have suggested that the I-allele was associated with fatigue-resistance [15] and elite endurance performance [16] , especially in hypoxic environments [15] . Meanwhile, ACE and its product Ang II play an important role in ventricular remodeling and improvement of cardiac function [17] .…”