NO ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ACE INSERTION/DELETION POLYMORPHISM AND MAXIMAL EXERCISE CARDIOVASCULAR HEMODYNAMICS IN YOUNG WOMEN

Abstract

A common insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism at the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) locus has been shown to be associated with endurance performance and maximal oxygen uptake. Previously, we found that postmenopausal women with the ACE II geno-type had a significantly higher VO2max than those with the ACE ID or DD genotypes, regardless of their habitual level of physical activity. However, it is not known whether ACE genotype is associated with maximal CV hemodynamics in younger women. PURPOSE: To determine if the ACE I/D polymorphism was associated with VO2max, cardiac output (Q), stroke volume (SV), heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), total peripheral resistance (TPR) and a-vO2 difference responses during maximal exercise in young women. We also sought to determine if an ACE genotype-exercise interaction was associated with these maximal hemodynamic variables by studying young women with different habitual physical activity (PA) levels (sedentary and endurance-trained). METHODS: Seventy-seven young women (age 18–35 yrs) participated in a maximal ex-ercise test (VO2max) and a maximal cardiac output test on a treadmill using the acetylene rebreathing technique. RESULTS: ACE genotype was not significantly associated with VO2max (II 40.7 ± 3, ID 42.1 ± 1, DD 40.1 ± 1 ml/kg/min) or maximal HR (II 191.4 ± 2, ID 191.3 ± 1, DD 192.5 ± 2 bpm). Systolic or diastolic BP, a-VO2 difference, TPR, SV, and Q during maximal exercise also were not significantly associated with ACE genotype. In addition, there were no statistically significant interactions between ACE genotype and habitual PA levels for any of the maximal exercise hemodynamic variables. CONCLUSSION: The ACE I/D polymorphism is not associated with maximal cardiovascular hemodynamics in young women and there were no significant ACE genotype-habitual PA level interactions associated with maximal cardiovascular hemodynamics in these young women.