The HERITAGE family study (HEalth, Risk factors, exercise Training And
GEnetics) will document the role of the genotype in the cardiovascula
r, metabolic, and hormonal responses to aerobic exercise training. A c
onsortium of five universities in the United States and Canada are inv
olved in carrying out the study. A total of 90 Caucasian families and
40 African-American families with both parents and three or more biolo
gical adult offspring are being recruited, tested, exercise-trained in
the laboratory with the same program for 20 wk, and re-tested. Oxygen
uptake, respiratory exchange ratio, blood pressure, heart rate, cardi
ac output, blood lactate, glucose, and free-fatty acids are measured d
uring exercise, and maximal oxygen uptake is determined before and aft
er training. Plasma lipids, lipoproteins and apoproteins, glucose and
insulin response to an intravenous glucose load, plasma sex steroids a
nd glucocorticoids, and body fat and fat distribution are assessed. Di
etary and activity habits and other life style components are assessed
by questionnaires, prior to, during, and after training. A variety of
genetic analyses will be undertaken, including heritability studies a
nd major gene effects, for each phenotype and its response to regular
exercise. Cell lines are established, and DNA sequence variation at a
variety of molecular markers will be determined for association and li
nkage studies.