Red blood cell genetic variation in Olympic endurance athletes

In an attempt to associate genetic variation with endurance performance, red cell antigens ABO, MNSs, Rhesus, Duffy, Kell, P and red cell enzymes lactate dehydrogenase (EC: 1.1.1.27), malate dehydrogenase (EC: 1.1.1.37), phosphoglucomutasej (EC: 2.7.5.1) and phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (EC: 1.1.1.44) genetic systems were studied in 79 Caucasian athletes who participated in endurance sports during the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. Gene frequencies were reported and phenotype frequencies were compared to appropriate reference populations. No significant differences were observed between the athletes and the nonathletic populations of reference. Comparisons of three genetic systems could be made with a sample of athletes from the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games. Phenotype frequencies were identical in the two samples of athletes. The search for genetic variants associated with endurance performance should continue for other genetic systems, particularly in skeletal muscle and other tissues related even more closely to this type of performance.