UPCOMING EVENTS: GENETIC TESTS AND GUT MICROBIOME – 9 SEPTEMBER 2024
Cyclists and long-distance runners:
Do they have unique genetics?
Science has shown that performance in endurance sports depends not only on training and strategy, but also on genetics. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports analyzes the genetic variants of elite road cyclists and long-distance runners, comparing them with sedentary individuals.
Genes linked to sports performance in endurance sports.
The analysis included 43 studies with 3,938 athletes and 10,752 controls, identifying 42 genetic variants, of which 13 were studied independently. The results highlight five key polymorphisms that favor athletes:
- ACTN3 (rs1815739): influences the presence of α-actinin-3, a protein essential for rapid muscle contractions. The TT variant is associated with increased efficiency in endurance sports.
- PPARGC1A (rs8192678): Regulates fatty acid oxidation, glucose utilization, mitochondrial biogenesis and muscle fiber formation.
- AMPD1 (rs17602729): Involved in energy metabolism, facilitates ATP production in mitochondria, key to endurance performance.
- HFE (rs1799945): Regulates iron absorption, essential for oxygen transport in the blood and aerobic efficiency.
- ACE II (I/D): Related to blood pressure regulation and electrolyte homeostasis, crucial factors in endurance sports.
How do genetics influence performance?
These findings reinforce the idea that genetics plays a key role in physical endurance. While training and nutrition are determinants, having a favorable genetic predisposition can make all the difference in an elite athlete’s endurance and recovery capacity.
Applications in sports genetics
Knowledge of these variants can be used in the personalization of training and nutritional strategies, optimizing the performance of athletes according to their genetic profile. With the advancement of genetics applied to sport, it may be possible to develop more precise training programs based on the individual biology of each athlete.
Do you want to know how genetics can influence your athletic performance?
Konopka MJ, van den Bunder JCM, Rietjens G, Sperlich B, Zeegers MP. Genetics of long-distance runners and road cyclists—A systematic review with meta-analysis. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2022; 32: 1414-1429. doi: 10.1111/sms.14212
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