No association between Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) gene variation and endurance athlete status in Kenyans.
Loading...
Date
2005-11
Authors
Onywera, V.O.
Boit, Michael K.
Wamukoya, Edwin K.
Pitsfladis, Yannis P.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
It is well established that environmental factors are important in
the success of east African runners in international distance
running. The extent to which genetic factors influence this
phenomenon is unknown Purpose: Perhaps the most studied
of genetic variants thought to influence human physical
perfurmance is the IID polymorphism in the Angiotensin
Converting Enzyme (ACE) .gene. The IID polymorphism is
characterized by the presence (I) or absence (D) of a 287 base
pair intronic fragment. The I allele is associated with lower
tissue and circulating ACE levels, and also with endurance
perfurmance. However, ACE gene performance association
studies have, to date, been confined to Caucasian populations.
The present study aimed to assess the association between
variation in the ACE gene and elite endurance athlete status in an
African population successful in distance running.
Methods: DNA samples were obtained from 226 national level
Kenyan athletes (N), 70 international Kenyan athletes (1), and 85
members of the general Kenyan population (C).
Results: IID genotype was significantly associated with
circulating ACE activity (P = 0.034), explaining almost 13% of
the variation in ACE levels. IID genotype was not associated
with elite endurance athlete status (df= 4, i=3.5, P = 0.47) with
no over-representation of the I allele among N (0.42) or I (0.39)
athletes relative to controls (0.38).
Conclusion: The absence of an association between the IID
polymorphism with elite Kenyan athlete status suggests that the
ACE gene does not contribute significantly to the phenomenal
success of Kenyan endurance runners in international distance
running. These results do not support the hypothesis that ACE
gene variation is associated with elite endurance performance.
Description
6th Biennual Scientific Conference of the Africa Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance(AFAHPER-SD)Kenyatta University Nairobi Kenya from Wednesday 9th-friday 11th November 2005.
Keywords
ACE gene, Kenyan runners, IID polymorphisms