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Int J Sports Med 2005; 26(6): 414-419
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-821160
Physiology & Biochemistry

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Evidence of Major Genes for Plasma HDL, LDL Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels at Baseline and in Response to 20 Weeks of Endurance Training: The HERITAGE Family Study

P. An1 , I. B. Borecki1 , 2 , T. Rankinen3 , J.-P. Després4 , A. S. Leon5 , J. S. Skinner6 , J. H. Wilmore7 , C. Bouchard3 , D. C. Rao1 , 2 , 8
  • 1Division of Biostatistics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
  • 2Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
  • 3Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
  • 4Lipid Research Center, Laval University, Québec, Canada
  • 5Division of Kinesiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
  • 6Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
  • 7Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, USA
  • 8Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Publication History

Accepted after revision: May 10, 2004

Publication Date:
10 September 2004 (online)

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Abstract

This study assessed major gene effects for baseline HDL-C, LDL-C, TG, and their training responses (post-training minus baseline) in 527 individuals from 99 White families and 326 individuals from 113 Black families in the HERITAGE Family Study. The baseline phenotypes were adjusted for the effects of age and BMI, and the training response phenotypes were adjusted for the effects of age, BMI, and their respective baseline values, within each of the sex-by-generation-by-race groups, prior to genetic analyses. In Whites, we found that LDL-C at baseline and HDL-C training response were under influence of major recessive genes (accounting for 20 - 30 % of the variance) and multifactorial (polygenic and familial environmental) effects. Interactions of these major genes with sex, age, and BMI were tested, and found to be nonsignificant. In Blacks, we found that baseline HDL-C was influenced by a major dominant gene without a multifactorial component. This major gene effect accounted for 45 % of the variance, and exhibited no significant genotype-specific interactions with age, sex, and BMI. Evidence of major genes for the remaining phenotypes at baseline and in response to endurance training were not found in both races, though some were influenced by major effects that did not follow Mendelian expectations or were with ambiguous transmission from parents to offspring. In summary, major gene effects that influence baseline plasma HDL-C and LDL-C levels as well as changes in HDL-C levels in response to regular exercise were detected in the current study.

Key words

Major gene effect - multifactorial effect - lipids - baseline - training response

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M. D. P. An

Division of Biostatistics (Box 8067), Washington University School of Medicine

660 South Euclid Avenue

St. Louis, Missouri 63110-1093

USA

Phone: + 3143623614

Fax: + 31 43 62 26 93

Email: anping@wustl.edu