Does a specific genetic background influence endurance or power-orientated phenotypes?

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the probability of individuals having the “best” mitochondrial biogenesis related polygenic profile that could increase performance. We compared polygenic profile analyzing several polymorphisms on sixty professional italian soccer players, considered “power-oriented athletes” and thirty sedentary volunteers. Samples of venous blood were obtained by standard clinical procedures and anticoagulant-treated blood was used to prepare genomic DNA. The polymorphic sites were scanned using PCR-RFLP protocols with different enzyme. Furthermore, a cloted part of venus blood sample was used to obtain serum from which we analyzed total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, by using a kit in a chinetic enzyme analyzer. We computed an “endurance genotype score” (EGS), related to mitochondrial biogenesis, from 0 to 100, from the accumulated combination of the polymorphisms in the PPARα-PPARGC1A-NRF2 (A/G; C/T) pathway; moreover, we analyzed the ACTN3 polymorphism. Particularly, as regards PPARα we also analyzed the lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL) because it is an important factor that regulate the balance between fatty acid and glucose metabolism. The results evidence an higher EGS and a variation of genotype distribution of the analyzed polymorphisms in professional soccer players compared with sedentary healty volunteers. Moreover, our study shows that PPARα genotype distribution is not related with a variation in the values of the lipid profile. In conclusion professional soccer players possess “theoretically” a genetic background that is more suitable for mitochondrial biogenesis.