“…The frequency of the Mt5178A genotype, a genetic marker of mitochondrial haplogroup D, is significantly higher in Japanese centenarians than in the general population (Alexe et al 2007;Tanaka et al 1998) and it is reported that individuals with Mt5178A (mitochondrial haplogroup D) are less susceptible to lifestyle-related adult-onset diseases, for example hypertension (Kokaze et al 2007), diabetes (Wang et al 2001), metabolic syndrome ), myocardial infarction (Mukae et al 2003;Takagi et al 2004), and cerebrovascular diseases (Ohkubo et al 2002), than those with Mt5178C. Mt5178 C/A polymorphism is, moreover, also reported to be associated with blood pressure (Kokaze et al 2004a(Kokaze et al , 2007, serum lipid levels (Kokaze et al 2001(Kokaze et al , 2003a, fasting plasma glucose levels and glucose tolerance (Kokaze et al 2005a), serum uric acid levels (Kokaze et al 2006), intraocular pressure (Kokaze et al 2004b), hematological data (Kokaze et al 2005b), and serum protein fraction levels (Kokaze et al 2002(Kokaze et al , 2003b, and its interaction with smoking habits is associated with serum triglyceride levels (Kokaze et al 2003a), intraocular pressure (Kokaze et al 2004b), red blood cell counts (Kokaze et al 2005b), and serum protein fraction levels (Kokaze et al 2003b). As far as we are aware, however, no information is available about the relationship between Mt5178 C/A polymorphism and respiratory function or about its interaction with smoking habits in respiratory function.…”