Key result
A favorable polygenic profile for muscle injuries was associated with significantly higher odds of being a professional athlete compared to non-athletes (OR 2.70).
Why the study?
The role of genetic variants across several polygenic profiles in elite endurance and professional football performance compared to non-athletes had not been previously evaluated.
Do specific polygenic profiles differentiate professional athletes from non-athletes?
Case-Control (n=452)
Do specific polygenic profiles differentiate professional athletes from non-athletes?
Odds Ratio: 2.7 (95% CI 1.75–4.16)
p-value: p=<0.001
Specific polygenic profiles related to liver metabolism, iron metabolism, and muscle injuries are significantly associated with being a professional endurance athlete or football player compared to non-athletes.
Supports genetic influences on athletic status; leaves open clinical utility or prospective validation for injury prediction.
The genetic profile that is needed to identify talents has been studied extensively in recent years. The main objective of this investigation was to approach, for the first time, the study of genetic variants in several polygenic profiles and their role in elite endurance and professional football performance by comparing the allelic and genotypic frequencies to the non-athlete population. In this study, genotypic and allelic frequencies were determined in 452 subjects: 292 professional athletes (160 elite endurance athletes and 132 professional football players) and 160 non-athlete subjects. Genotyping of polymorphisms in liver metabolisers (CYP2D6, GSTM1, GSTP and GSTT), iron metabolism and energy efficiency (HFE, AMPD1 and PGC1a), cardiorespiratory fitness (ACE, NOS3, ADRA2A, ADRB2 and BDKRB2) and muscle injuries (ACE, ACTN3, AMPD1, CKM and MLCK) was performed by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Single Nucleotide Primer Extension (PCR-SNPE). The combination of the polymorphisms for the "optimal" polygenic profile was quantified using the genotype score (GS) and total genotype score (TGS). Statistical differences were found in the genetic distributions between professional athletes and the non-athlete population in liver metabolism, iron metabolism and energy efficiency, and muscle injuries (p<0.001). The binary logistic regression model showed a favourable OR (odds ratio) of being a professional athlete against a non-athlete in liver metabolism (OR: 1.96; 95% CI: 1.28-3.01; p = 0.002), iron metabolism and energy efficiency (OR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.42-3.43; p < 0.001), and muscle injuries (OR: 2.70; 95% CI: 1.75-4.16; p < 0.001) in the polymorphisms studied. Genetic distribution in professional athletes as regards endurance (professional cyclists and elite runners) and professional football players shows genetic selection in these sports disciplines.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Varillas‐Delgado et al. (2022) conducted a case-control in Athletic performance (n=452). Favorable polygenic profiles (liver metabolism, iron metabolism, muscle injuries) vs. Non-athlete population was evaluated on Odds of being a professional athlete based on muscle injuries polygenic profile (OR 2.70, 95% CI 1.75-4.16, p=<0.001). A favorable polygenic profile for muscle injuries was associated with significantly higher odds of being a professional athlete compared to non-athletes (OR 2.70).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: