Regular exercise, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-I) activity and the 4G/5G promoter polymorphism in the PAI-1 gene

The aim of this controlled randomised clinical trial was to investigate the effects of regular low to moderate intensity physical activity on plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) activity during three years while taking into account the 4G/5G polymorphism in the promoter of the PAI-1 gene. Male subjects (age 52-62 years, n = 132) were randomised into an exercise or a (non-intervention) reference group. Aerobic threshold increased by 8.8% (p = 0.025) in the exercise group, and decreased by 1.1% in the non-intervention group, while PAI-1 activity did not change significantly in either study group. However! homo zygotes for the 4G allele in the exercise group showed a 36% reduction in PAI-1 (p = 0.025). In conclusion, although regular moderate physical activity did not decrease PAI-1 activity in the whole group, regular exercise ma) be effective for controlling elevated PAI-1 level in subjects homozygous for the 4G allele.