Influences of the G2350A polymorphism in the ACE Gene on cardiac structure and function of ball game players

There were significant differences in left ventricular mass index (LVmassI) value among each sporting discipline studied. Especially in the athletes of basketball disciplines, indicated the highest LVmassI value than those of other sporting disciplines studied (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant association between any echocardiographic data and the G2350A polymorphism in the ACE gene in the both controls and ball game players.Our data suggests that the G2350A polymorphism in the ACE gene may not significantly contribute to the changes in cardiac structure and function of ball game players, although sporting disciplines of ball game players may influence the changes in LVmassI value of these athletes. Further studies using a larger sample size and other genetic markers in the ACE gene will be needed.It is known that athletes who take regular and intensive physical exercise experience change in the cardiac structure and function, which is called an athlete's heart [1], as a part of physiological adaptation to physical exercise. It shows basically different symptoms from the abnormal condition of cardiac structure and function caused by complication of cardiovascular diseases such as essential hypertension. That is to say, as to cardiac structure, while it shows change such as increase in the thickness of ventricular wall caused by increase in the volume of ventricle and hypertrophy of myocardium, as to cardiac function, it is known to show increase in stroke volume and decrease in resting heart rate [2].Such physiologically adaptive aspect which occurs to athletes, however, is known to depend on period, intensity and type of physical exercise and time. In case of athletes who do aerobic exercises such as marathon or long distance running repeatedly, an aspect of increase in the left ventricular internal dimension at end-diastole or increase in stroke volume is shown. In case of athletes who take muscle strengthening exercise such as weight lifting or wrest