Genetic influence on exercise-induced changes in physical function among mobility-limited older adults

This study aimed to evaluate the association of ACE I/D genotypes with changes in physical function among Caucasian older adults (n = 283) following 12 mo of either structured, multimodal physical activity or health education. Measures of physical function included usual-paced gait speed and performance on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). After checking Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, we used using linear regression to evaluate the genotype*treatment interaction for each outcome. Covariates included clinic site, body mass index, age, sex, baseline score, comorbidity, and use of angiotensin receptor blockers or ACE inhibitors. Genotype frequencies [II (19.4%), ID (42.4%), DD (38.2%)] were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P > 0.05). The genotype*treatment interaction was statistically significant for both gait speed (P = 0.002) and SPPB (P = 0.020). Exercise improved gait speed by 0.06 ± 0.01 m/sec and SPPB score by 0.72 ± 0.16 points among those with at least one D allele (ID/DD carriers), but function was not improved among II carriers. Thus, ACE I/D genotype appears to play a role in modulating functional responses to exercise training in seniors.

Source: Physiological Genomics - March 1, 2014 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Buford, T. W., Hsu, F.-C., Brinkley, T. E., Carter, C. S., Church, T. S., Dodson, J. A., Goodpaster, B. H., McDermott, M. M., Nicklas, B. J., Yank, V., Johnson, J. A., Pahor, M., for the LIFE Research Group Tags: Call for Papers: Physiological Genomics of Exercise in Health and Disease Source Type: research