The aim of the present research is to determine the inspiratory capacity (IC) in a group of sedentary Chilean university students grouped by the genotype (polymorphism rs4646994) of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene. Eighty three individuals (18 to 35 years old), 37 women and 46 men were selected through non-probabilistic sampling. The IC was measured through body plethysmograph, DNA was extracted from blood with EDTA and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for the Ins / Del polymorphism of the ECA. Normality of the data was determined, using Student's t-test or ANOVA for the parametric variables, and in the non-parametric U-tests of Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis, a value of p <0.05 being considered significant. The distribution of genotypes was found in Hardy Weinberg equilibrium (X2 = 1.872, p = 0.171 for men and X2 = 3.424, p = 0.064 for women), the IC, in both sexes, showed no significant differences when compared by genotype. The men carrying the Ins / Ins genotype had higher IC levels in relation to the gentile group Del / Del - Ins / Del. Women with allelic dominance Ins had a higher IC than those belonging to the Del / Del group. There was a greater IC in female participants with allelic dominance Ins and masculine homozygous Ins, of the ACE gene.

KEY WORDS: Inspiratory capacity; Angiotensin converting enzyme; Sedentary.