Is there an Association between ACE and CKMM Polymorphisms and Cycling Performance Status during 3-Week Races?

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the association between polymorphisms of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and muscle-specific creatine kinase (CKMM) genes, and the actual performance status observed in professional cyclists capable of completing a classic tour stage race such as the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, or Vuelta a España. To accomplish this, we compared the frequencies of the ACE and CKMM genotypes/alleles in 50 top-level Spanish professional cyclists that have completed at least one of these events to 119 sedentary controls, and 27 elite (Olympic-class) Spanish runners. The genetic polymorphism at the CK-MM locus was detected with the NcoI restriction endonuclease. The results of our study showed that the proportion of the DD genotype was higher in cyclists (50.0 %) than in the other two groups (p<0.05), the proportion of the ID genotype was higher in controls (46.2 %) than in the other two groups (p<0.05), and the proportion of the II genotype was higher in runners (40.7 %) than in the other two groups (p<0.05). The proportion of the D allele was higher in both cyclists (65.0 %) and controls (57.6 %) than in runners (46.3 %) (p<0.001), whereas the proportion of the I allele was higher in runners than in the other two groups (p<0.001). No statistical differences were found for CKK-MM- NcoI. We conclude that in top-level professional cyclists capable of completing a classic 3-wk tour race, the frequency distribution of the D allele and the DD genotype seems to be higher than in other endurance athletes such as elite runners (in whom the I allele is especially frequent).

Regulation of Increased Blood Flow (Hyperemia) to Muscles During Exercise: A Hierarchy of Competing Physiological Needs

“…Even less information is available concerning genetic factors that might influence physiological adaptations to the type of prolonged intense training performed by elite endurance athletes. Moreover, success in elite endurance athletics, like most human phenotypes, probably represents a combination of environmental exposures and behavioral factors (e.g., training) that operate in concert with a large number of gene variants and other epigenetic factors (287). There are data suggestive that genetic variability in angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) might explain at least part of the very high stroke volumes and V O 2max values seen in elite athletes.…”

Comparison of Muscle-Specific Creatine Kinase (CK-MM) Gene Polymorphism (rs8111989) Among Professional, Amateur Athletes and Non-athlete Karatekas

“…Recently interdependence between the CK-MM A/G polymorphism and individual differences in the expression of the physical qualities of a person has been shown in several studies (17,18). Association of the CK-MM A/G polymorphism with the increment in aerobic power after aerobic physical training of subjects not engaged in sports has been demonstrated (13,16,19).…”

A influência do genótipo da ECA sobre a aptidão cardiovascular de jovens do sexo masculino moderadamente ativos

“…Moreover, the intensity and the profile of the running exercises could be also influencing their physiological demands, including both metabolic and neuromuscular factors 22,23 . In this regard, Lucía et al 24 have shown that the DD genotype seemed to be higher in elite cyclists compared with endurance runners, probably because of the higher power demands of cycling. Furthermore, the controversy about the influence of the ACE genotype on the endurance athlete status 25 could be explained by the fact that VO 2max is not so important for success as other factors (e.g.…”