Association between ACE and ACTN3 genes polymorphisms and athletic performance in elite and sub-elite Chinese youth male football players

Abstract

Background Previous studies have shown controversial relationships between ACE I/D and ACTN3 R577x polymorphisms and athletic performance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess athletic performance indicators of Chinese youth male football players with different ACE and ACTN3 gene profiles. Methods and Materials This study recruited 73 elite (26 13-year-olds, 28 14-year-olds, and 19 15-year-olds) and 69 sub-elite (37 13-year-olds, 19 14-year-olds, and 13 15-year-olds) and 107 controls (63 13-year-olds, and 44 14-year olds aged 13–15 years, all participants were of Chinese Han origin. We measured height, body mass, thigh circumference, speed, explosive power, repeat sprints ability, and aerobic endurance in elite and sub-elite players. We used single nucleotide polymorphism technology to detect controls elite and sub-elite players’ ACE and ACTN3 genotypes, Chi-squared (χ2) tests were employed to test for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. χ2 tests were also used to observe the association between the genotype distribution and allele frequencies between controls and elite and sub-elite players. The differences in parameters between the groups were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and a Bonferroni’s post-hoc test, with statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results (1) The genotype distribution of the ACE I/D and ACTN3 R577x polymorphisms in controls, elite and sub-elite football players were consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, except for the ACE genotype distribution of sub-elite players. (2) The RR and DD genotypes were significantly different between elite and sub-elite players (p = 0.024 and p = 0.02, respectively). (3) Elite players were more likely to have the RR genotype and less likely to have the DD genotype compared with sub-elite players. (4) Both elite and sub-elite RR players’ Yo-yo intermittent recovery level 1 (YYIR1) running distance was significantly longer than that of RX players (p = 0.05 and p = 0.025, respectively). However, there was no significantly different in YYIR1 running distance between elite and sub-elite RR players. (5) Elite XX players’ VO2 max was significantly higher than that of RX and sub-elite players. Conclusion These results indicate that ACE I/D and ACTN3 R577x polymorphisms are not associated with muscle power in Chinese elite and sub-elite players. The XX genotype of ACTN3 is associated with the aerobic endurance of elite players.

Genetic Polymorphisms and Their Impact on Body Composition and Performance of Brazilians in a 105 Km Mountain Ultramarathon

“…In the present paper, the analysis of the anthropometric variables, the ACE I/D polymorphism, and running time showed that genotype II had a correlation between running time and %F and FM pre–post running, which presented a decrease of 10.5% and 14.1% in that order. Individuals with the II genotype exhibit a higher percentage of Type I fibers and may increase bradykinin levels and decrease ACE enzyme activity so the local concentration of nitric oxide in skeletal muscle increases, thus increasing the mitochondrial respiratory efficiency and the contractile function of skeletal muscle to improve human endurance performance and fat oxidation [ 34 ]. The I allele is associated with greater fat storage during physical training.…”

Athletic performance, sports experience, and exercise addiction: an association study on ANKK1 gene polymorphism rs1800497

“…The genes ACE, ACTN3, and PPARGC1A have been among the most commonly investigated ones in this context. Even though multifactorial approaches are required, it is critical to illuminate the associations of the genes and the variations on these genes with the athletic parameters ( Cerit, 2018 ; Hall et al, 2023 ; Yang et al, 2023 ).…”