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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Heritability of physical activity traits in Brazilian families: the Baependi Heart Study

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Author(s):
Horimoto, Andrea R. V. R. [1] ; Giolo, Suely R. [2] ; Oliveira, Camila M. [1] ; Alvim, Rafael O. [1] ; Soler, Julia P. [3] ; de Andrade, Mariza [4] ; Krieger, Jose E. [1] ; Pereira, Alexandre C. [1]
Total Authors: 8
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Inst Heart, Lab Genet & Mol Cardiol, BR-05403000 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[2] Univ Fed Parana, Polytech Ctr, Dept Stat, BR-81531990 Curitiba, PR - Brazil
[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Stat, Math & Stat Inst, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[4] Mayo Clin, Dept Hlth Sci Res, Rochester, MN 55905 - USA
Total Affiliations: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: BMC MEDICAL GENETICS; v. 12, NOV 29 2011.
Web of Science Citations: 14
Abstract

Background: It is commonly recognized that physical activity has familial aggregation; however, the genetic influences on physical activity phenotypes are not well characterized. This study aimed to (1) estimate the heritability of physical activity traits in Brazilian families; and (2) investigate whether genetic and environmental variance components contribute differently to the expression of these phenotypes in males and females. Methods: The sample that constitutes the Baependi Heart Study is comprised of 1,693 individuals in 95 Brazilian families. The phenotypes were self-reported in a questionnaire based on the WHO-MONICA instrument. Variance component approaches, implemented in the SOLAR (Sequential Oligogenic Linkage Analysis Routines) computer package, were applied to estimate the heritability and to evaluate the heterogeneity of variance components by gender on the studied phenotypes. Results: The heritability estimates were intermediate (35%) for weekly physical activity among non-sedentary subjects (weekly PA\_NS), and low (9-14%) for sedentarism, weekly physical activity (weekly PA), and level of daily physical activity (daily PA). Significant evidence for heterogeneity in variance components by gender was observed for the sedentarism and weekly PA phenotypes. No significant gender differences in genetic or environmental variance components were observed for the weekly PA\_NS trait. The daily PA phenotype was predominantly influenced by environmental factors, with larger effects in males than in females. Conclusions: Heritability estimates for physical activity phenotypes in this sample of the Brazilian population were significant in both males and females, and varied from low to intermediate magnitude. Significant evidence for heterogeneity in variance components by gender was observed. These data add to the knowledge of the physical activity traits in the Brazilian study population, and are concordant with the notion of significant biological determination in active behavior. (AU)