Association of rs699 (M235T) Polymorphism in the AGT Gene With Power but Not Endurance Athlete Status

Abstract

Thus far, genetic studies of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) with respect to athletic performance or athlete status have mainly focused on the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene and its insertion/deletion polymorphism. The aim of this study was to investigate the functional rs699 (M235T) polymorphism in angiotensinogen (AGT), the second most important gene of the RAS, for association with athletic status and level of performance. The study included 123 endurance athletes and 100 power-oriented athletes, who were classified as elite or sub-elite according to competitive achievements at the international level, and 354 unrelated sedentary control subjects. The M235T genotype and allele distributions differed significantly between power and endurance athletes (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0002, genotypes and alleles, respectively) and between power athletes and control subjects (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0002, genotypes and alleles, respectively). The frequency of the CC genotype in the power athlete group was 2.2 times higher and 3.1 times higher than in the control and endurance groups, respectively. No difference was found in M235T allele distribution between elite and sub-elite athletes, either in power- or endurance-oriented athletes. We conclude that the CC genotype of the M235T polymorphism is overrepresented in Polish power athletes, suggesting that the AGT M235T variant is associated with power athletes' status.