Can Genetics Affect Your Capacity to Exercise?

Article published in International LabMate website (https://www.labmate-online.com)

While exercise seems to come naturally to some people, others find it an ongoing struggle. Now, new research from King’s College London has confirmed the discovery of a genetic mutation that hinders capacity to exercise. The findings were published in The New England Journal of Medicine, with the team outlining the discovery of the genetic mutation that impedes a person’s ability to efficiently workout.

The mutation affects the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene, which senses cellular oxygen and plays an important role in helping cells survive when access to the vital chemical element is reduced. VHL mutations impair functionality in the mitochondria, an organelle that exists in most cells. Compared to people with normal mitochondrial function, VHL mutations have a negative impact on the body’s ability to carry out aerobic exercise.

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