Abstract

The main purpose of this research is to determine the relationship between angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) gene polymorphism and maximal oxygen consumption (maxVO₂) in soccer players and sedentary subjects. To prove possible association of telomerase enzyme activity with maxVO₂, was a secondary aim.

A total of 104 healthy soccer players and 103 healthy sedentary individuals who are aged between 18-30 yrs, and have similar characteristics were included in the study. Participants’ medical histories were taken and physical examinations were performed. Regional fat measurement by skinfold calliper and body composition measurements by bioimpedance were made. MaxVO₂ measurements were performed with a cardiopulmonary exercise testing device (Masterscreen CPX) in connexion to a treadmill. Blood samples were taken into EDTA tubes for ACE I/D gene polymorphism determination, which was performed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. In an attempt to relate maxVO₂ with leucocyte telomere length, telomerase enzyme activity was also searched. Apart from descriptive statistical analysis, 2 x 3 factorial ANOVA analysis was performed to see the effect of both sports participation and gene polymorphism. Hardy-Weinberg analysis was made to determine gene distribution. For statistical significance, the p < 0.05 level was used.

Soccer players’ body composition, body mass index (BMI), body fat ratio (BFR), and all skinfold thicknesses were lower than the controls’. Total (ml/min) and per body weight (ml/min/kg) maxVO₂ and ventilatory threshold (VT) levels of the control group were found to be significantly lower than those of the soccer players. ACE I/D gene polymorphism distribution in all subjects was 21.7% for ACE I/I, 45.5% for ACE I/D and 32.8% for ACE D/D; I and D alleles amounting to 44.4% and 55.6%. Soccer players and controls had similar gene distribution. ACE I/D gene polymorphism and maxVO₂ were not associated. However, average maxVO₂ score of all individuals with ACE I/I polymorphism (52.1 ± 10.3 ml/min/kg) was found to be higher than those with I/D (50.5 ± 9.6 ml/min/kg) and D/D (50.9 ± 10.8 ml/min/kg) polymorphism, the difference failing statistical significance. In the present study, no effect of ACE I/D gene polymorphism on body weight, BMI, BFR and skinfold measurements -apart the subscapular- were determined. Leucocyte telomerase activity was not detectable in the blood samples.

According to the present investigation, ACE I/D gene polymorphism is not associated with maxVO₂ and body composition measurements in soccer players and sedentary subjects. No leucocyte telomerase activity was detected in the blood samples, failing to prove association of maxVO₂ with telomere length.