The Association of Gene Polymorphisms With Athlete Status in Ukrainians

Abstract

Athletic performance is a polygenic trait influenced by both environmental and genetic factors.ObjectiveTo investigate individually and in combination the association of common gene polymorphisms with athlete status in Ukrainians.MethodsA total of 210 elite Ukrainian athletes (100 endurance-oriented and 110 power-orientated athletes) and 326 controls were genotyped for ACE I/D, HIF1A Pro582Ser, NOS3 –786 T/C, PPARA intron 7 G/C, PPARG Pro12Ala and PPARGC1B Ala203Pro gene polymorphisms, most of which were previously reported to be associated with athlete status or related intermediate phenotypes in different populations.ResultsPower-oriented athletes exhibited an increased frequency of the HIF1A Ser (16.1 vs. 9.4%, P = 0.034) and NOS3 T alleles (78.3 vs. 66.2%, P = 0.0019) in comparison with controls. Additionally, we found that the frequency of the PPARG Ala allele was significantly higher in power-oriented athletes compared with the endurance-oriented athletes (24.7 vs. 13.5%; P = 0.0076). Next, we determined the total genotype score (TGS, from the accumulated combination of the three polymorphisms, with a maximum value of 100 for the theoretically optimal polygenic score) in athletes and controls. The mean TGS was significantly higher in power-oriented athletes (39.1 ± 2.3 vs. 32.6 ± 1.5; P = 0.0142) than in controls.ConclusionsWe found that the HIF1A Ser, NOS3 T and PPARG Ala alleles were associated with power athlete status in Ukrainians.

Current Progress in Sports Genomics

“…highly elite (25.0%)). These results were replicated in three cohorts of 158 Polish power-orientated athletes [218], 208 Russian power-oriented athletes (122 weightlifters and 86 wrestlers) [219], and 110 Ukrainian power-oriented athletes [220], but not in 81 Israeli sprinters [221]. Furthermore, the 582Ser allele was significantly associated with an increased proportion of fast-twitch muscle fibers in m. vastus lateralis of all-round speed skaters [217].…”

“…In a study of Russian power-oriented athletes (n ¼ 260), the higher frequency (23.8% vs. 15.1%; P < 0.0001) of the PPARG 12Ala allele compared to 1073 controls has been reported [238]. These results were replicated in two studies involving 182 Polish strength athletes [239] and 110 Ukrainian power-oriented athletes [220].…”

“…Therefore, one might anticipate that genetic variation in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (NOS3; location: 7q36; NOS3 generates NO in blood vessels) could be associated with power/sprint performance. Indeed, Drozdovska et al [129,220] have found that the frequency of the NOS3 rs2070744 T (À786 T/C polymorphism) allele was significantly higher in 110 Ukrainian power-oriented athletes compared to 326 controls (78.3% vs. 66.2%; P ¼ 0.0019). These results were confirmed in two independent studies of 53 Spanish elite power-oriented athletes (jumpers, throwers, sprinters) and 100 nonathletic controls (frequency of the rs2070744 T allele: 71.0% vs. 56.0%; P ¼ 0.015) [130] and 29 Italian power-oriented athletes [162].…”

Lack of association between genotype score and sprint/power performance in the Japanese population

“…Based on this algorithm, several studies have attempted to identify polygenic profiles that could determine the potential for becoming an elite athlete; [6][7][8][9][10][11] most of the studies indicated that elite athletes have higher TGSs than non-athletic controls. Recently, it was suggested that the TGS could be used as an additional tool for selecting appropriate athletic events.…”

Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene: application possibilities in medicine and sports cardiology (literature review)

“…Numerous studies results favour for interaction of ACE gene I/D polymorphism with high sport achievements [16].…”