The Association between the <i>ALDH2</i> rs671 Polymorphism and Athletic Performance in Japanese Power and Strength Athletes.

The rs671 polymorphism is associated with the enzymatic activity of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), which is weakened by the A allele in East Asians. We recently reported the association of this polymorphism with the athletic status in athletic cohorts and the muscle strength of non-athletic cohorts. Therefore, we hypothesized the association of <i>ALDH2</i> rs671 polymorphism with the performance in power/strength athletes. We aimed to clarify the relationship between the <i>ALDH2</i> rs671 polymorphism and performance in power/strength athletes. Participants comprising 253 power/strength athletes (167 men and 86 women) and 721 healthy controls (303 men and 418 women) were investigated. The power/strength athletes were divided into classic powerlifting (<i>n</i> = 84) and weightlifting (<i>n</i> = 169). No differences in the genotypes and allele frequencies of the <i>ALDH2</i> rs671 polymorphism and an association between performance and the <i>ALDH2</i> rs671 genotype were observed in weightlifters. However, the relative values per body weight of the total record were lower in powerlifters with the GA + AA genotype than those with the GG genotype (7.1 ± 1.2 vs. 7.8 ± 1.0; <i>p</i> = 0.010, partial η² = 0.08). Our results collectively indicate a role of the <i>ALDH2</i> rs671 polymorphism in strength performance in powerlifters.