Heritability of physical fitness and exercise behavior

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  • Murakami Haruka
    Department of Exercise and Health Promotion, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, NIBIOHN
  • Zempo Hirofumi
    Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
  • Miyamoto-Mikami Eri
    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
  • Kikuchi Naoki
    Sports Training Center, Nippon Sport Science University
  • Fuku Noriyuki
    Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University

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Other Title
  • 運動能力・運動行動の遺伝率
  • ウンドウ ノウリョク ・ ウンドウ コウドウ ノ イデンリツ

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Physical fitness including muscle strength and endurance capacity varies substantially among individuals. Physical activity level and exercise behavior also vary among individuals. Many family studies and studies on twins have reported that genetic factors are responsible for heterogeneity in fitness-related traits. However, there is much dispersion in heritability, as previously reported. A systematic review was performed to determine the extent of heritability in physical fitness. A literature search was conducted through PubMed using the following keywords: (heredity or heritability) and (“muscle strength” or “muscle contraction” or endurance or athlete* or fitness or exercise) and (twin* or family). Finally, 43 articles that included 137 phenotypes met the criteria. Only one article focused on the heritability of athletic status. With respect to muscle strength, 23 articles and 54 phenotypes were collected, and showed a range of heritability of 0%-98% (mean: 55±22%). This heterogeneity was partly explained by the ages of subjects. With respect to endurance capacity, 13 articles and 28 phenotypes showed heritability of 0%-93% (mean: 54±25%). The considerable degree of variability in heritability of fitness-related traits may depend on age, sex, race, and environmental factors. Therefore it is necessary to investigate the interaction between genetic factor and factors other than genetic factor. On the other hand, with respect to exercise behavior or physical activity level which is important for improving the physical fitness or health status, the heritability of 0%-85% has also been reported. That is, the genetic factor plays a role in not only physiological phenotypes but also behavioral phenotypes. Understanding of these genetic factors and their mechanisms will lead to improvement in physical fitness or encouragement of physical activity/exercise behavior.

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