Association of genome variations in the renin-angiotensin system with physical performance

Hum Genomics. 2012 Nov 24;6(1):24. doi: 10.1186/1479-7364-6-24.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the genotype distribution and allelic frequencies of ACE (I/D), AGTR1 (A +1166 C), BDKRB2 (+9/-9) and LEP (G-2548A) genomic variations in 175 Greek athletes who excelled at a national and/or international level and 169 healthy Greek adults to identify whether some particular combinations of these loci might serve as predictive markers for superior physical condition.

Results: The D/D genotype of the ACE gene (p = 0.034) combined with the simultaneous existence of BDKRB2 (+9/-9) (p = 0.001) or LEP (G/A) (p = 0.021) genotypes was the most prevalent among female athletes compared to female controls. A statistical trend was also observed in BDKRB2 (+9/-9) and LEP (G-2548A) heterozygous genotypes among male and female Greek athletes, and in ACE (I/D) only in male athletes. Finally, both male and female athletes showed the highest rates in the AGTR1 (A/A) genotype.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that the co-existence of ACE (D/D), BDKRB2 (+9/-9) or LEP (G/A) genotypes in female athletes might be correlated with a superior level of physical performance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Athletes
  • Athletic Performance*
  • Blood Pressure
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genome, Human
  • Genotype
  • Greece
  • Humans
  • Leptin / genetics*
  • Male
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / genetics*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / genetics
  • Receptor, Bradykinin B2 / genetics*
  • Renin-Angiotensin System / genetics*

Substances

  • AGTR1 protein, human
  • Leptin
  • Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1
  • Receptor, Bradykinin B2
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A