The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the ACE I/D gene polymorphism on athletic status and physical performance of well-trained Malaysian athletes. The distribution of ACE I/D gene polymorphism among 180 well trained athletes was compared with 180 sedentary controls. 20 meter Yo-Yo intermittent recovery and leg strength tests were used to measure maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and leg strength value of athletes with different ACE I/D genotype, respectively. Chi-Square and one way ANOVA tests were used for data analysis. The II and DD genotype were more prevalent among the endurance athletes and the strength/ power athletes compared to the other groups, respectively (p=0.00). The VO2max was not significantly associated with ACE genotype in athlete (p=0.828). However, athletes with the DD genotype had recorded a greater result for leg strength (113.8 ± 36.2) than those with the II (96.2 ± 28.0) and the ID (112.2 ± 33.5) genotype (p=0.047). This study supports the notion that ACE I/D gene polymorphism might be a genetic factor associated with athletic status and strength performance among the Malaysian population. Future studies with more representation of endurance athletes might able to detect the association between I allele and endurance performance.
Exercise has been suggested as the best and the most affordable way for managing blood pressure. The insertion/ deletion of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) I/D gene polymorphism had been reported to be linked with sev- eral diseases such as hypertension and diabetic nephropathy. Several studies showed that blood pressure response to exercise training for health management also vary among individuals with different genotypes of ACE I/D gene poly- morphism. A study of 9 months of endurance exercise training at 75 to 85 % of VO2max showed that the decrease of resting blood pressure in I allele carriers wass greater than D allele carriers. In contrast, other study discovered that adult women with D allele had greater reduction in resting blood pressure than those with I allele, following a 12-week combined aerobic and resistance exercise training. Despite the inconsistencies of some findings, it has remained unknown if the ACE I/D gene polymorphism would also influence blood pressure response to isometric handgrip training that had been found to be superior to the dynamic resistance exercise training in controlling and preventing high blood pressure. Thus, this article was to review the literature on ACE I/D gene polymorphism and blood pressure response to exercise training that could serve as the basis for future research to identify individuals who will lower resting blood pressure the most with exercise training program for health management.