Angiotensin I converting enzyme gene polymorphism and exercise trainability in elderly women: an electrocardiological approach.

Angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) gene Insertion / Deletion (I/D) polymorphism is associated with exercise trainability and exercise induced left ventricular hypertrophy. However, it is unclear whether this polymorphism influences exercise trainability in the elderly, and the electrocardiological alterations by exercise training is unknown among the genotypes. We herein investigated the association between ACE gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism, exercise trainability and the electrocardiological alternations by exercise in elderly women. Eighty four elderly women participated in this study. In all subjects the leg extension power (LEP) and lactate threshold (LT) were determined in order to evaluate the muscle strength, aerobic capacity and to also select the appropriate training intensity for each individual. They performed bench step exercise training for 12 weeks. A resting electrocardiogram was recorded for the obtained QTc interval in before and after the program. The baseline of aerobic capacity was higher in I/I than that in I/D, and the QTc interval was shorter in I/I than that in I/D. All other characteristics were similar among the genotypes. The QTc interval tended to be shorten only in the D/D. Furthermore, the value of the QTc interval change showed a significant difference between the I/I and D/D genotype after the program. The LT and LEP demonstrated a similar response among the genotypes. The D allele of ACE gene I/D polymorphism may therefore play a role in the electrocardiological aspect during exercise training, however, it was not found to influence the aerobic capacity. Key pointsThe D allele of ACE gene I/D polymorphism may play a role in the electrocardiological aspects during exercise trainingACE gene I/D polymorphism was not determined the aerobic capacity and leg strength in elderly people.The ACE gene I/D polymorphism did not influence aerobic and strength trainability in elderly people.