The C Allele in NOS3 -786 T/C Polymorphism is Associated with Elite Soccer Player’s Status

N. Eynon; J. R. Ruiz; T. Yvert; C. Santiago; F. Gómez-Gallego; A. Lucia; R. Birk

doi:10.1055/s-0032-1306337

International Journal of Sports Medicine, Table of Contents

Int J Sports Med 2012; 33(07): 521-524
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1306337

Physiology & Biochemistry

The C Allele in NOS3 -786 T/C Polymorphism is Associated with Elite Soccer Player’s Status

Authors

N. Eynon

¹Institute of Sports Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
J. R. Ruiz

²Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Unit for Preventive Nutrition, Huddinge, Sweden

⁵Department of Physical Education and Sport, School of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Spain
T. Yvert

³Physiology, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
C. Santiago

³Physiology, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
F. Gómez-Gallego

³Physiology, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
A. Lucia

³Physiology, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
R. Birk

⁴Department of Nutrition, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University Center, Ariel, Israel

Abstract

The NOS3-786 T/C polymorphism (rs2070744) is a candidate to explain individual variations in sports related phenotypes. We determined the genotype and allele frequency of NOS3-786 T/C in a group of 60 male professional elite soccer players. Their results were compared with those of 100 world-class endurance athletes, 53 elite power athletes, and 100 sedentary, healthy men (controls) of the same Caucasian (Spanish) origin. There were significant differences in genotype frequencies between soccer players, controls, endurance and power elite athletes (all P≤0.02). These results were confirmed when we analysed allelic frequencies (all P<0.01). The likelihood of having the C allele was higher in soccer players compared with (i) controls [odds ratio (OR), 2.165, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.362–3.441], (ii) endurance athletes (OR: 1.879, 95%CI: 1.184–2.984), and (iii) power athletes (OR: 4.032, 95%CI: 2.307–7.047). In conclusion, the -786C allele is associated with the status of being an elite soccer player, compared with non-athletic controls and also with elite endurance and power athletes. More research is needed in other groups of elite soccer players in order to replicate the results of the present study.

Key words

genetics - athletic performance - nitric oxide synthase - polymorphism

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References

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