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Int J Sports Med 2009; 30(1): 66-72
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1038677
Genetics & Molecular Biology

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Endurance Performance: Genes or Gene Combinations?

F. Gómez-Gallego1 , C. Santiago1 , M. González-Freire1 , C. A. Muniesa2 , M. Fernández del Valle2 , M. Pérez2 , C. Foster3 , A. Lucia2
  • 1Biomedical Laboratory, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
  • 2Exercise Physiology, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
  • 3Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse, Lacrosse, Wisconsin, United States
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Publication History

accepted after revision April 17, 2008

Publication Date:
23 July 2008 (online)

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Abstract

We assessed the possible association between variants of the genes encoding for the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and α-actinin-3 (ACTN3) (both individually and combined) and several endurance phenotypic traits, e.g., peak power output (PPO), ventilatory (VT) and respiratory compensation threshold (RCT), among others, in professional road cyclists and sedentary controls (n = 46 each). We applied an ANCOVA test using the aforementioned phenotype traits as dependent variables, ACE and/or ACTN3 genotype as the fixed (independent) factor and age and body mass as covariates. We only found a significant genotype effect with no concomitant covariate effect for ACTN3, with cyclists who were not α-actinin-3 deficient (RR + RX genotypes) having higher PPO and VT values than their XX counterparts (mean [SEM]: 7.4 (0.1) vs. 7.1 (0.1) W/kg, p = 0.035; and 4.5 (0.1) vs. 4.3 (0.1) W/kg, p = 0.029, respectively). Cyclists with an “extreme” ACTN3 and ACE genotype combination, i.e., most strength/power oriented (DD + RR/RX), had higher RCT values than those with the “intermediate” combinations (II + RX/RR, p = 0.036; and DD + XX, p = .0004) but similar to those with the most endurance oriented genotype (II + XX). No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found in controls. In summary, in world-class cyclists, we only found an association between ACTN3 genotypes and VT and PPO, and between ACTN3/ACE genotype combinations and RCT.

Key words

ACTN3 - ACE - gross efficiency - delta efficiency - respiratory compensation threshold

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Prof. Alejandro Lucia

Universidad Europea de Madrid
Exercise Physiology

Villaviciosa de Odón

28670 Madrid

Spain

Fax: + 34 9 16 16 82 65

Email: alejandro.lucia@uem.es