Ace I/D Genotype and Endurance Performance Level in Mexican Marathon Runners

PURPOSE: We examined the hypothesis of association between the ACE insertion/deletion genotype and endurance performance level in Mexican marathon runners. METHODS: DNA samples were available from 256 (men n = 166; women n = 90) marathon runners who had completed at least two 42 Km road races. Cases; CAS (n=88; men=63; women=25) were finishers in the top 3rd %ile, while controls; CON (n=168; men=103; women=65) were those in the lowest 3rd %ile of their respective age and gender. The DNA sequence variation was detected by the tetra-primer ARMS-PCR procedure. Genotypes were determined by PCR product size. RESULTS: The three expected ACE genotypes were observed in both groups (CON: DD = 20%. ID = 41%, II = 39%; and CAS: DD = 28%, ID =41%, II = 31%). These genotype frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (X2 P>0.05) and were not significantly (X2 P>0.05) different between genders or groups. Allelic frequencies (CON; D = 0.41%, I = 0.59% and CAS; D = 0.48, I = 0.51) were not significantly (X2 P>0.05) different between groups or genders. Comparing genotype frequencies by I or D allele carrier status revealed no statistically significant (X2 P≥0.05) differences. CONCLUSIONS: We found no support for the hypothesis of association between the ACE I/D polymorphism and endurance performance level status in our homogeneous cohort of Mexican marathon runners.