Abstract
0277 Performance in elite athletes is a multifactorial phenotype, Influenced by various factors such as physical and psychological characteristics. Several studies have reported that the insertion (I) allele of the angiontensin-converting enzyme (ACE) I/deletion (D) polymorphism is more common in endurance athletes than in sedentary controls. There is also abundant evidence that the serotonin (5-HT) system is modulating mood and several behavioural traits. A functional polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene was recently identified and the presence of the short (S) allele found to be associated with a lower level of expression of the gene, lower levels of 5-HT uptake, impulsive aggression and anxiety. PURPOSE: To determine whether 5-HTT gene and ACE polymorphism could be associated with psychological and physical characteristics in elite endurance athlete status, respectively. METHODS: Polymorphisms in the ACE and 5-HTT were determined in genormic DNA obtained from 24 control participants (CON), 35 elite short distance runners (ESDR) and 42 elite long distance runners (ELDR). RESULTS: There was no difference in ACE genotype frequencies among the three groups. The DD genotype frequency was and 21.7% in CON, 14.7% in ESDR, and 19.0% in ELDR, and the II genotype frequency was 26.1%, 41.2% and 31.0%, respectively. On the other hand, the S and SL alleles were more frequently found in ELDR (SS: 71.4%, SL: 28.6%, LL: 0%, p < .05) than in ESDR (SS: 61.8%, SL: 26.5%, LL: 11.8%) and in CON (SS: 63.6%, SL: 18.2%, LL: 18.2%). CONCLUSION: These data support that the insertion (I) allele of the ACE I/D polymorphism is more common in ELDR and even in ESDR than in CON. The interesting finding was that nobody in the ELDR has LL genotype, and we conclude that elite endurance athletes should have S allele and genetic variation in the 5-HTT gene may play a role in being able to distinguish between the two types of sport events.
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