Strength training: importance of genetic factors

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998 May;30(5):724-31. doi: 10.1097/00005768-199805000-00013.

Abstract

Purpose: This study focuses on the quantification of genetic and environmental factors in arm strength after high-resistance strength training.

Methods: Male monozygotic (MZ, N = 25) and dizygotic (DZ, N = 16) twins (22.4 +/- 3.7 yr) participated in a 10-wk resistance training program for the elbow flexors. The evidence for genotype*training interaction, or association of interindividual differences in training effects with the genotype, was tested by a two-way ANOVA in the MZ twins and using a bivariate model-fitting approach on pre- and post-training phenotypes in MZ and DZ twins. One repetition maximum (1RM), isometric strength, and concentric and eccentric moments in 110 degree arm flexion at velocities of 30 degrees x s(-1), 60 degrees x s(-1), and 12 degrees x s(-1) were evaluated as well as arm muscle cross-sectional area (MCSA).

Results: Results indicated significant positive training effects for all measures except for maximal eccentric moments. Evidence for genotype*training interaction was found for 1RM and isometric strength, with MZ intra-pair correlations of 0.46 and 0.30, respectively. Bivariate model-fitting indicated that about 20% of the variation in post-training 1RM, isometric strength, and concentric moment at 120 degrees x s(-1) was explained by training-specific genetic factors that were independent from genetic factors that explained variation in the pretraining phenotype (30-77%).

Conclusions: Genetic correlations between measures of pre- and post-training strength were indicative for high pleiotropic gene action and minor activation of training-specific genes during training.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Twin Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arm
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Physical Endurance / genetics*
  • Physical Fitness*
  • Twins, Dizygotic
  • Twins, Monozygotic
  • Weight Lifting