Association of ACE and ACTN3 gene polymorphisms with gymnastics performance: A meta-analysis of allele and genotype distribution frequencies

This meta-analysis investigates the association between ACE and ACTN3 gene polymorphisms and gymnastics performance by analyzing allele and genotype distribution frequencies. A total of 10 studies published between 2007 and 2023 were included, comprising 615 elite gymnasts and 3621 control individuals. The study focused on the distribution of ACE and ACTN3 polymorphisms across different subgroups, including gender and gymnastics discipline. Significant differences in allele frequencies were found, particularly in the ACE gene, where the I allele frequency was higher in male gymnasts compared to controls (p=0.016). No significant differences were observed in other subgroups. ACTN3 polymorphisms, analyzed under allele-based, dominant, and recessive models, showed no significant associations, except for the RR genotype in male gymnasts (p=0.046). These findings suggest that ACE and ACTN3 polymorphisms may play a role in gymnastics performance, particularly in male athletes, but further research, with a focus on gender-specific differences and larger sample sizes, is needed to confirm these associations. Additionally, the role of other genes related to flexibility, such as collagen synthesis genes, should be explored in future studies to better understand the genetic basis of performance in flexibility-dependent sports like gymnastics.