The effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme genotype on acute mountain sickness and summit success in trekkers attempting the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,895 m)

• Published in: European journal of applied physiology Vol. 105; no. 3; pp. 373 - 379
• Main Authors: Kalson, Nicholas S., Thompson, Julian, Davies, Andrew J., Stokes, Suzy, Earl, Mark D., Whitehead, Adam, Tyrrell-Marsh, Ian, Frost, Hannah, Montgomery, Hugh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.02.2009; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acclimatization - genetics; Acute Disease; Adult; Alleles; Altitude; Altitude Sickness - enzymology; Altitude Sickness - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Enzymes; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Frequency; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype & phenotype; Human Physiology; Humans; Male; Medical research; Middle Aged; Mountain climbing; Mountaineering - physiology; Musculoskeletal system; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Original Article; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A - genetics; Risk Factors; Sports Medicine; Success; Tanzania; Time and Motion Studies; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports; Tanzania; Acclimatisation; Genetics; Hypoxia; Angiotensin converting enzyme; Altitude; Human; Oxygen; Enzyme; Environmental factor; Genotype; Altitude induced disorder; Lung edema; Acute mountain sickness; Renin angiotensin system; Angiotensin
• ISSN: 1439-6319; 1439-6327
• DOI: 10.1007/s00421-008-0913-5

The I-allele rather than the D-allele of the human angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene has been associated with high-altitude mountaineering success. We investigated whether the I-allele was associated with summit success, and also with AMS development, in altitude-naïve trekkers. Subjects ascended from 1,860 m to the summit over 4 days ( n  = 34, ‘direct-profile’) or 5 days ( n  = 82, ‘slower-profile’). Proportionally more II direct-profile subjects were successful than ID or DD, although the difference was not significant (100% of II subjects, 52% ID and 43% DD, P  = 0.09). There was no difference in success amongst subjects on the slower-profile (50% II, 45% ID and 58% DD, P  = 0.54). There was a non-significant trend for increasing AMS scores in ID/DD subjects. Amongst tourist trekkers on Mt. Kilimanjaro the I-allele is not associated with summit success. No evidence is found to support an association between ACE genotype and AMS development.