Abstract

We compared allele and genotype frequencies of the ADRB1 Arg389Gly [rs1801253], ADRB2 Gly16Arg [rs1042713] and Gln27Glu [rs1042714], and ADRB3 Trp64Arg [rs4994] variations in the following three groups of Spanish (Caucasian) men: (i) world-class endurance athletes (E; runners and cyclists, N=100), (ii) elite power athletes (P; sprinters, jumpers and throwers, N=53) and (iii) non-athletic controls (C; N=100). We did not observe significant differences in genotype and allele distributions among the study groups except for the ADRB3 Trp64Arg polymorphism in E vs C (27% vs 8% of carriers of the Arg allele in E and C, P<0.001; frequency of the minor Arg (C) allele of 14% vs 4% in E and C, P=0.001). Heterozigosity for the ADRB3 Trp64Arg polymorphism seems to be associated with elite endurance performance, while other variants of the ß-adrenergic receptors’ genes do not seem to influence top-level sports performance significantly, at least in athletes of Spanish origin.