title: Genetic and environmental influences on blood pressure and physical activity: a study of nuclear families from Muzambinho, Brazil.
abstract: Blood pressure (BP) and physical activity (PA) levels are inversely associated. Since genetic factors account for the observed variation in each of these traits, it is possible that part of their association may be related to common genetic and/or environmental influences. Thus, this study was designed to estimate the genetic and environmental correlations of BP and PA phenotypes in nuclear families from Muzambinho, Brazil. Families including 236 offspring (6 to 24 years) and their 82 fathers and 122 mothers (24 to 65 years) were evaluated. BP was measured, and total PA (TPA) was assessed by an interview (commuting, occupational, leisure time, and school time PA). Quantitative genetic modeling was used to estimate maximal heritability (h²), and genetic and environmental correlations. Heritability was significant for all phenotypes (systolic BP: h² = 0.37 ± 0.10, P < 0.05; diastolic BP: h² = 0.39 ± 0.09, P < 0.05; TPA: h² = 0.24 ± 0.09, P < 0.05). Significant genetic (r g) and environmental (r e) correlations were detected between systolic and diastolic BP (r g = 0.67 ± 0.12 and r e = 0.48 ± 0.08, P < 0.05). Genetic correlations between BP and TPA were not significant, while a tendency to an environmental cross-trait correlation was found between diastolic BP and TPA (r e = -0.18 ± 0.09, P = 0.057). In conclusion, BP and PA are under genetic influences. Systolic and diastolic BP share common genes and environmental influences. Diastolic BP and TPA are probably under similar environmental influences.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Hemodinâmica da Atividade Motora (LAHAM), Escola de Educação Física e Esporte, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. cforjaz@usp.br
authors.forename: C L M
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Forjaz
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bartholomeu
authors.forename: J A S
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rezende
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Basso
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prista
authors.forename: J A R
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Maia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics*; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics*; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable; D055815:Young Adult