Abstract
Aim: This study analyzed the influences of ACE and ACTN3 gene variants in sprinters, jumpers, and endurance young athletes of track and field. Methods: 36 school-level competitors of both sex (15 girls and 21 boys; aged 16.4 ± 1.2 years; training experience 4 ± 1.2 years) practitioners of different sport disciplines (i.e., sprint, jump, and endurance athletes) participated in the study. The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from peripheral blood using a standard protocol. Anthropometric measurements, 30 m sprint, squat jump (SJ), and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) tests were measured. Results: Genotype distribution of the ACE and ACTN3 genes did not differ between groups. In ACE DD and ACTN3 RX genotypes, the SJ test was bigger in sprinters and jumpers than in the endurance runners. In contrast, when analyzing the ACE ID genotype, sprinters had higher SJ than endurance athletes. Moreover, in the ACE DD genotype, the sprinters and jumpers’ athletes had lower time in 30 m tests compared to endurance runners. However, the ACE ID and ACTN3 RX genotypes was greater aerobic fitness in endurance runners than in jumpers’ athletes. Conclusion: Although the genetic profile is not a unique factor for determining athletic performance, the ACE DD and ACTN3 RX genotypes seem to favor athletic performance in power and sprint versus endurance sports. Thus, this study evidenced that assessing genetic variants could be used as an auxiliary way to predict a favorable profile for the identification of young talents of track and field.
Highlights
Genetic variants have an important influence over determinants of athletic performance, such as endurance, strength, power, neuromuscular coordination, size, and composition of muscle fiber[1]
The sample size presented within groups with XX polymorphism was small; n = 1 in each group
Our main results showed that both ACE and ACTN3 gene variants seem to exert potential effects on the athletic performance of jumpers, sprinters, and endurance athletes, in young talents of track and field
Summary
Genetic variants have an important influence over determinants of athletic performance, such as endurance, strength, power, neuromuscular coordination, size, and composition of muscle fiber[1]. A common genetic variation in the ACTN3 gene results in a cytosine-to-thymine replacement transforms the arginine base (R) to a premature stop codon (X) at amino-acid 577, whose carrier of the RR homozygotes and the R allele may be related to muscle size and strength, faster race times and a higher proportion of type II muscle fibers[8]. Another important gene for athletic performance is the ACE, it regulates blood pressure, and has an essential role in cardio-respiratory efficiency. The most studied polymorphism of this gene is an insertion-deletion polymorphism (I/D) that has been associated with
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
