Can we predict top-level sports performance in power vs endurance events? A genetic approach

Buxens, Amaya
Ruiz, Jonatan R.
Arteta, David
Artieda, Marta
Santiago Dorrego, Catalina
González-Freire, Marta
Martínez Amat, Antonio
Tejedor, Diego
Lao, José I.
Gómez Gallego, Félix
Lucía Mulas, Alejandro

Open link

Publication date

January 2011

DOI

10.1111/j.1600-0838.2009.01079.x

Publisher

Wiley

Abstract

The goal of our study was to discriminate potential genetic differences between humans who are in both endpoints of the sports performance continuum (i.e. world-class endurance vs power athletes). We used DNA-microarray technology that included 36 genetic variants (within 20 different genes) to compare the genetic profile obtained in two cohorts of world-class endurance (N=100) and power male athletes (N=53) of the same ethnic origin. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression showed that the rs1800795 (IL6-174 G/C), rs1208 (NAT2 K268R) and rs2070744 (NOS3-786 T/C) polymorphisms significantly predicted sport performance (model χ(2) =25.3, df=3, P-value <0.001). Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed a significant discr...