The Polymorphism T1470A of the SLC16A1 Gene is Associated with the Lactate and Ventilatory Thresholds but Not with Fat Oxidation Capacity in Young Men

Purpose: To examine the association of the single nucleotide polymorphism A1470T in the SLC16A1 gene with blood lactate accumulation during a graded exercise test and its associated metaboreflex.

Methods: Forty-six Latin-American men (Age: 27 ± 6 years; Body fat: 17.5 ± 4.7%) performed a graded exercise test on a treadmill for the assessment of maximal oxygen uptake (VO), lactate threshold (LT), ventilatory threshold (VT) and the exercise intensity corresponding to maximal fat oxidation rate (FATmax), via capillary blood samples and indirect calorimetry. Genomic DNA was extracted from a peripheral blood sample. Genotyping assay was carried out by real-time polymerase chain reaction to identify the A1470T polymorphism (rs1049434).

Results: Genotypes distribution were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (X = 5.6, p > 0.05), observing allele frequencies of 0.47 and 0.53 for the A and T alleles, respectively. No difference in VO, body composition nor FATmax were observed across genotypes, whereas carriers of the TT genotype showed a higher LT (24.5 ± 2.2 vs. 15.6 ± 1.7 mL kg min, p < 0.01) and VT in comparison to carriers of the AA + AT genotypes (32.5 ± 3.3 vs. 21.7 ± 1.5 mL kg min, p < 0.01). Both, VO and the A1470T polymorphism were positively associated to the LT (R = 0.50, p < 0.01) and VT (R = 0.55, p < 0.01). Only VO was associated to FATmax (R = 0.39, p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Independently of cardiorespiratory fitness, the A1470T polymorphism is associated to blood lactate accumulation and its associated ventilatory response during submaximal intensity exercise. However, the A1470 polymorphism does not influence fat oxidation capacity during exercise in young men.