Association of COMT rs4680 Polymorphism with High-Level Performance in Track  Field Athletes

Abstract

The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene rs4680 polymorphism, primarily linked to psychological traits, has been limitedly studied in the key athletic abilities including endurance, speed, and power. Thus, the current investigation sought to explore any possible connections between the rs4680 polymorphism in the COMT gene and competitive performance among Turkish high-level track & field athletes. As a part of an ongoing project, this study engaged 60 elite athletes, categorized into two distinct groups based on their specialty (31 sprint/power athletes and 29 endurance athletes). To provide a comparative baseline, a control group consisting of twenty sedentary individuals aged between 18 and 35 was also incorporated. The assessment of participants' performance levels is conducted using the methodology established by the International Association of Track & Field Federations (IAAF), which is based on personal bests (PBs). Whole exome sequencing (WES) was used in the research to analyze genomic DNA that was taken out of participant blood samples. The distribution of the COMT gene rs4680 polymorphism in terms of genotypes (AA, GA, and GG) did not change significantly between the athlete and the control group or within the athletic groups, according to the research (p>0.05). In a similar vein, the research did not discover any connections of note between athletes' PBs in the sprint/power or endurance categories and the rs4680 polymorphism. Based on these findings, the research concludes that there is no meaningful relationship between the COMT gene's rs4680 polymorphism and the competitive performance of the Turkish high-level track and field athletes under investigation.