FAAH rs324420 Polymorphism Is Associated with Performance in Elite Rink-Hockey Players

Abstract

Genetic factors are among the major contributors to athletic performance. Although more than 150 genetic variants have been correlated with elite athlete status, genetic foundations of competition-facilitating behavior influencing elite performances are still scarce. This is the first study designed to examine the distribution of genetic determinants in the athletic performance of elite rink-hockey players. A total of 116 of the world’s top best rink-hockey players (28.2 ± 8.7 years old; more than 50% are cumulatively from the best four world teams and the best five Portuguese teams), who participated at the elite level in the National Rink-Hockey Championship in Portugal, were evaluated in anthropometric indicators/measurements, training conditions, sport experience and sport injuries history. Seven genetic polymorphisms were analyzed. Polymorphism genotyping was performed using the TaqMan® Allelic Discrimination Methodology. Rink-hockey players demonstrated significantly different characteristics according to sex, namely anthropometrics, training habits, sports injuries and genetic variants, such as Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) rs731236 (p < 0.05). The Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) rs324420 A allele was significantly associated with improved athletic performance (AA/AC vs. CC, OR = 2.80; 95% Cl, 1.23–6.35; p = 0.014; p = 0.008 after Bootstrap) and confirmed as an independent predictor among elite rink-hockey players (adjusted OR = 2.88; 95% Cl, 1.06–7.80; p = 0.038). Our results open an interesting link from FAAH-related biology to athletic performance.

Genetic Variations in Susceptibility to Traumatic Muscle Injuries and Muscle Pain among Brazilian High-Performance Athletes

“…Whether VDR rs731236 also contributes to this deficiency among the exposed individuals or, inversely, whether the SNP somehow influences tobacco consumption requires further investigation. The VDR rs731236 genotypes were also distributed differently according to the athletes’ sex, which was previously observed in a study conducted by our research group [ 22 ]. Taken together and considering the roles of these SNPs, future studies with larger cohort sizes should be conducted to reevaluate the impact of these genetic variants on TMI and MP susceptibility among high-performance athletes.…”

“…In fact, the 385A allele (A allele; minor allele) has been associated with diminished FAAH levels and, thus, higher tolerance to pain [ 54 , 55 , 56 ]. Interestingly, the same allele was previously linked to better athletic achievements in studies conducted by our research group with rink-hockey and volleyball players [ 22 , 23 ]. In the present study, however, athletes carrying the rs324420 AA genotype were two times more prone to MP after exercise than their counterparts.…”

“…The gene actinin alpha 3 ( ACTN3 ), popularly referred to as the “speed gene,” has been consistently connected to athletic performance through its modulation of sports-related phenotypes, including training adaptation and recovery, as well as the risk of injury [ 18 , 19 , 20 ]. Fatty acid amide hydrolase ( FAAH ) encodes for a protein with the same name, which is associated with inflammation, stress, and pain tolerance [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. PPARG coactivator 1 alpha ( PPARGC1A ) also encodes a protein with the same name, which is thought to regulate muscle fiber composition and training-induced muscle adaptation [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ].…”

Analysis of the impact of electronic sports on anxiety and biochemical factors of players

“…Given the results, they noticed that experienced electronic sports competitors held higher pre-and post-competition cortisol levels compared to inexperienced participants. Silva et al (2022) revealed that the electronic game they played by generating a competitive ambiance greatly impacted the testosterone and cortisol levels of undergraduate students. In another research, Tharawadeepimuk and Wongsawat (2021) stated that contests in which a competitive ambiance is generated impact the players psycho physiologically.…”

“…Electronic sports are regarded as competitive computer games in which individuals or teams compete against each other. In addition, some researchers see it as competitive sports in which participant might expand their hand-eye coordination and mental ability when playing (Silva et al, 2022). The digital factors of electronic sports, and also the anxiety that occurs in the competitive environment of electronic sports players, lead to psychophysiological issues in the body and mind (Mehrsafar et al, 2019;La Fratta et al, 2021).…”