Genetics of Endurance Training
Exercise is one of the most important things for our well-being and good health. Nowadays, people
are well-aware about the health-risks as well the steps they should take to avoid that. No wonder
there are many health centers and gyms sprawled up in almost every corner of the cities.
Endurance training is one of its parts – it includes a long-term, moderate- muscle resistance
exercises that positively affect our health. Along with that, those exercises make losing fat possible
based on an individual’s endurance level and improves cardiac health. However, in spite of working
out a lot and following a rigid diet, it’s hard for some people to maintain that desired level of fitness.
The reason behind it is the person’s genetic make-up.
Along with playing a major role in our response to training, diet, and other external factors, genetic
factors also boosts or limit our physical and mental performance. It affects our potential in sports
and other physical activities.
There are two variations in Endurance –
Aerobic Endurance
Aerobic Endurance – One with oxygen, the body works at such level where the demand for fuel and
oxygen can be fulfilled by the body’s intake. CO2 and water are the only waste products formed
which get eliminated from the body through breathing and sweating.
A research on aerobic endurance shows that certain individuals respond better to training than
others. Thus, even if they have a lesser genetic potential for endurance, they might respond well to
training and develop their potential more than someone compared to someone whose genetic
makeup does not respond to the training.
Anaerobic endurance
This is more severe type of endurance where body uses maximum strength and works very hard
that the demand for oxygen and fuel exceeds the rate of supply (because of the vigorous nature of
the exercise) and the muscles need to depend on stored reserved fuel.
The genes –
When it comes to physical or athletic performance, two genes are widely studied – angiotensin-
converting enzyme gene (ACE) and α-actinin-3 gene (ACTN3). There are two variations found in the
human DNA in the ACE gene. Every person has two copies of the ACE gene; one from mother and
other from the father. Depending on the version of the genes the person receives from each of the
parent, the person’s collection of two can be one of the three combinations of the following – II, ID,
or DD.
The endurance, our genetic make-up and their compatibility to the physical efforts can be gauged
through genetic testing. This test at DGL is as simple and hassle-free as a normal blood test and
turnaround time is 4 weeks. It is recommended for all the people above 18 years of age. It is indeed
necessary to know about our genetic endurance to the exercise so that we can alter our workout
regime accordingly.