Abstract
The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of mitochondrial haplogroups
on aerobic and anaerobic performance phenotypes such as maximum oxygen consumption,
muscle power, and muscle mass. We recruited 474 healthy Japanese individuals and measured
their physical performance phenotypes such as peak oxygen uptake, muscle power, and
muscle mass. The genotypes for 186 polymorphisms in the mitochondrial DNA were determined,
and the haplotypes were classified into 2 macrohaplogroups (i. e., N and M) and 12
haplogroups (i. e., F, B, A, N9a, N9b, M7a, M7b, G1, G2, D4a, D4b, and D5). When we
compared the 2 major Japanese macrohaplogroups, leg extension power (P=0.0395), leg extension power based on body weight (P=0.0343), and vertical jump performance (P=0.0485) were significantly higher in subjects with mitochondrial macrohaplogroup
N than in those with macrohaplogroup M. However, peak oxygen uptake was similar between
the 2 groups. When we analyzed the 12 haplogroups, all of the measured parameters
were similar among them. In conclusion, mitochondrial macrohaplogroup N may be one
of the determinant factors of anaerobic physical performance phenotype such as muscle
power.
Key words
mtDNA - polymorphism - haplogroup - physical fitness - leg extension power - vertical
jump
