Exercise Affects Gene Expression

As elite athletes demonstrate, some people seem to get more out of physical activity and intense exercise more than others. In a group of 24 men, high responders who improved their peak rate of oxgen consumption after six weeks of high-intensity aerobic cycle training had as much as a 900 percent increase in muscle tissue gene activity. Low responders, however, neither improved their oxygen consumption nor had altered gene expression.

“Aerobic training activates them to enhance oxygen delivery to the muscles,” explained James Timmons, lead author of the study. “Aerobic exercise kick-starts these genes to do their job. Otherwise these genes are only found at low levels.”

This doesn’t mean us low responders (I’m assuming that I’m one) should give up on exercising. Exercise has many benefits in addition to increasing gene activity. I’m hoping to experience some of those benefits when I start going to the gym again after my vacation.

Discovery Channel, October 6, 2005