GENOTYPE DISTRIBUTION AND ALLELE FREQUENCY OF THE ACE GENE I/D POLYMORPHISM IN ENDURANCE RUNNERS: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Objective: To analyse the genotypic distribution and allelic frequency of the I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene in endurance runners and its relationship with athletic performance. Method: The guidelines of the PRISMA methodology for systematic reviews were followed; the search was carried out in the Science direct, Scopus, Springer, PubMed, Taylor & Francis, Sports Discus and Google Scholar databases. The information was organized in categories of analysis and grouping the data of the studies. Results: 23 articles were included. Nine studies associated the II/ID genotype in Caucasian runners with athletic performance; ten studies associated the DD genotype with athletic performance in Caucasian and Asian runners, while four studies found no association of the ACE gene with performance in African and Caucasian runners. Discussion: The performance and relationship with the ACE gene in specific populations was identified, the review clearly identified the Caucasian and Asian population as carriers of either the ACE gene I or D, however, studies in African runners did not identify the relationship of this polymorphism with performance. Conclusions: It was shown that the II/ID/DD genotypes are related to the physical performance of athletes in 19 (83%) of the 23 articles studied.