The ACE and ACTN3 polymorphisms in female soccer athletes

Qi Wei

doi:10.1186/s41021-021-00177-3

Abstract

ObjectsWe investigated the association of ACE I/D and ACTN3 R577X polymorphisms with the performance of Chinese elite female soccer athletes for the first time.Material and methodsThe genotype distributions of ACE I/D and ACTN3 R577X in the athlete group and the control group of Chinese females were evaluated via PCR and compared. VO2max value was tested as per standard protocol.ResultsRegarding the distribution of ACE polymorphisms, the genotype frequency was indifferent between the athletes (II 40 %, ID 46.7 %, DD 13.3 %) and the controls (II 42 %, ID 48 %, DD 10 %). No difference in the I/D allele frequency was observed between the athlete group and the control group. Regarding the distribution of ACTN3 polymorphisms, the genotype frequency was significantly different between the athletes (XX 0 %, XR 53.3 %, RR 46.7 %) and the controls (XX 16 %, XR 44 %, RR 40 %). The allele frequency was observed no different between the athlete and the control group. The ACE ID and ACTN3 RR genotype combination was associated with higher VO2max values among defenders than among other players. According to VO2max values,The ACE and ACTN3 genotype combinations (II/ID/DD + RR/XR) significantly differed between the athletes and the controls (p < 0.05).ConclusionThese results suggested that the Chinese elite female soccer athletes were more likely to harbor the I allele and the R allele and that the combination of ACE II/ID and ACTN3 RR/XR was a synergetic determinant of the athletic performance of females in soccer.

Highlights

With the completion of the Human Genome Map (HGM), the efficiency of human genomics research has been greatly enhanced
The distributions of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and ACTN3 polymorphisms were compared between 60 Chinese female soccer athletes and 200 healthy female non-athletes
The ACE ID and ACTN3 RR genotype combination was associated with higher Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) values among defenders than among other players

Summary

Introduction

With the completion of the Human Genome Map (HGM), the efficiency of human genomics research has been greatly enhanced. Many genetic studies related to sports performance have been performed based on the hypothesis that the human genome contributes to individual physical functions, such as endurance, muscle strength and coordination, equilibrium, flexibility, and even psychological motivation. The roles of ACE in athletic performance have been widely studied. The association between the ACE genotype and endurance performance among Asians was demonstrated in a meta-analysis [20]. Many studies showed the D allele to be overrepresented among power athletes, as observed in 20 British [26], 65 Russian [27], and 56 European Caucasian swimmers [39]. Wang et al reported that 166 East Asian short-distance swimmers more commonly carried the ACE I allele than controls [38]

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