ACE I/D gene polymorphism and aerobic endurance development in response to training in a non-elite female cohort

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between ACE gene polymorphism and short- and medium-duration aerobic endurance performance improvements in response to the same training regimen in a non-elite female cohort.

Fifty-five female non-elite Caucasian Turkish athletes trained to enhance running speeds corresponding to 70% and 90% of heart rate reserve (V-HRR70 and V-HRR90 respectively) 30 min running speed performance (V-30min) 3 times per week, for 6 weeks. ACE gene polymorphisms studied by PCR analysis.

The distribution of genotypes in the whole cohort was 21.8%, 41.8%, 36.4% for II (n=12), ID (n=23) and DD (n=20), respectively. Subjects with ACE II genotype had significantly higher improvements in V-30min and V-HRR70 than the ACE DD group (P<0.05). However, in HRR90 ACE DD genotype had a better performance enhancement in running speed than others (P<0.05). Endurance improvements in the V-HRR70 and in the V-30min showed a linear trend as II>ID>DD (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively) while a linear trend as DD>ID>II (P<0.01) observed in V-HRR90.

ACE II genotype may related with better improvements in medium duration aerobic endurance performance whilst ACE DD genotype seems to be more advantageous in performance enhancement in shorter duration and higher intensity endurance activities.