The angiotensin converting enzyme I/D polymorphism in long distance runners.
OBJECTIVE
There is an assumption that ACE I/D polymorphism represents one of the possible genetic factors that might be associated with sports excellence. Recent studies have identified an increased frequency of I allele in elite endurance athletes, long distance runners, rowers and mountaineers. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the ACE I/D polymorphism is associated with enhanced endurance performance.


METHODS
We examined this hypothesis by determining ACE I/D allele frequency in 215 marathon runners, 222 half-marathon runners and 18 inline skaters classified by performance (marathon competition results). ACE genotype and allele frequencies were compared with 252 healthy controls.


RESULTS
ACE genotype frequency in the whole cohort did not differ from that in the sedentary controls (P < 0.56). However, there was an increase of the I/I genotype incidence amongst successful marathon runners scoring on places from 1st to 150th (P < 0.01). These findings were confirmed in the group of inline skaters, similarly demonstrating an increase of the I/I genotype (P < 0.01). There was no association found between half marathon runners and the ACE genotype (P < 0.59).


CONCLUSIONS
An excess of the I allele in long distance runners confirms the association between the ACE I/D polymorphism and endurance sports performance.
Hruskovicová
H
H
Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia. helena@pobox.sk
Dzurenková
D
D
Selingerová
M
M
Bohus
B
B
Timkanicová
B
B
Kovács
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D002648:Child; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007532:Isoleucine; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012420:Running; D012861:Skating; D018154:Slovakia / Q000453:epidemiology
D007532:Isoleucine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A