Association of mitochondrial DNA haplogroups J and K with low response in exercise training among Finnish military conscripts

• Published in: BMC genomics Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 75 - 8
• Main Authors: Kiiskilä, Jukka, Jokelainen, Jari, Kytövuori, Laura, Mikkola, Ilona, Härkönen, Pirjo, Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi, Sirkka, Majamaa, Kari
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central 22.01.2021; BioMed Central Ltd; BMC
• Subjects: Aerobics; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Comparative and evolutionary genomics; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA, Mitochondrial - genetics; Endurance; Exercise; Exercise dose; Finland; Fitness training programs; Genetic aspects; Genomics; Haplotypes; Health aspects; Humans; Life Sciences; Low-responder; Maximum oxygen consumption; Microarrays; Microbial Genetics and Genomics; Military conscript; Military Personnel; Military service; Mitochondrial DNA; mtDNA haplogroup; Mutation; Oxidative phosphorylation; Phosphorylation; Physical fitness; Physical training; Physiological aspects; Physiological research; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Population; Population-based cohort; Proteomics; Research Article; Soldiers; Trainability; Training; Variables; Finland; Trainability; Population-based cohort; Exercise dose; Military conscript; Low-responder; mtDNA haplogroup
• ISSN: 1471-2164; 1471-2164
• DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07383-x

Background We have previously suggested that some of the mutations defining mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups J and K produce an uncoupling effect on oxidative phosphorylation and thus are detrimental for elite endurance performance. Here, the association between haplogroups J and K and physical performance was determined in a population-based cohort of 1036 Finnish military conscripts. Results Following a standard-dose training period, excellence in endurance performance was less frequent among subjects with haplogroups J or K than among subjects with non-JK haplogroups ( p  = 0.041), and this finding was more apparent among the best-performing subjects ( p  < 0.001). Conclusions These results suggest that mtDNA haplogroups are one of the genetic determinants explaining individual variability in the adaptive response to endurance training, and mtDNA haplogroups J and K are markers of low-responders in exercise training.