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PPARα gene variation and physical performance in Russian athletes

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Abstract

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) regulates genes responsible for skeletal and heart muscle fatty acid oxidation. Previous studies have shown that the PPARα intron 7 G/C polymorphism was associated with left ventricular growth in response to exercise. We speculated that GG homozygotes should be more prevalent within a group of endurance-oriented athletes, have normal fatty acid metabolism, and increased percentages of slow-twitch fibers. We have tested this hypothesis in the study of a mixed cohort of 786 Russian athletes in 13 different sporting disciplines prospectively stratified by performance (endurance-oriented athletes, power-oriented athletes and athletes with mixed endurance/power activity). PPARα intron 7 genotype and allele frequencies were compared to 1,242 controls. We found an increasing linear trend of C allele with increasing anaerobic component of physical performance (P=0.029). GG genotype frequencies in endurance-oriented and power-oriented athletes were 80.3 and 50.6%, respectively, and were significantly (P<0.0001) different compared to controls (70.0%). To examine the association between PPARα gene variant and fiber type composition, muscle biopsies from m. vastus lateralis were obtained and analyzed in 40 young men. GG homozygotes (n=25) had significantly (P=0.003) higher percentages of slow-twitch fibers (55.5±2.0 vs 38.5±2.3%) than CC homozygotes (n=4). In conclusion, PPARα intron 7 G/C polymorphism was associated with physical performance in Russian athletes, and this may be explained, in part, by the association between PPARα genotype and muscle fiber type composition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sports Genetics Laboratory, St Petersburg Research Institute of Physical Culture, 2 Dynamo Street, 197110, St Petersburg, Russia

    Ildus I Ahmetov, Irina A Mozhayskaya, Irina V Astratenkova, Antonina I Komkova & Viktor A Rogozkin

  2. Centre for Cardiovascular Genetics, Department of Medicine, Royal Free and University College London Medical School, The Rayne Institute, 5 University Street, WC1E 6JF, London, UK

    David M Flavell

  3. SSC RF Institute for Biomedical Problems, 76A Khoroshevskoe Chaussee, 123007, Moscow, Russia

    Ekaterina V Lyubaeva, Pavel P Tarakin, Boris S Shenkman, Anastasia B Vdovina, Aleksei I Netreba, Daniil V Popov & Olga L Vinogradova

  4. Institute for Human Health and Performance, University College London, N19 5LW, London, UK

    Hugh E Montgomery

Authors
  1. Ildus I Ahmetov
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  2. Irina A Mozhayskaya
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  3. David M Flavell
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  4. Irina V Astratenkova
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  5. Antonina I Komkova
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  6. Ekaterina V Lyubaeva
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  7. Pavel P Tarakin
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  8. Boris S Shenkman
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  9. Anastasia B Vdovina
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  10. Aleksei I Netreba
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  11. Daniil V Popov
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  12. Olga L Vinogradova
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  13. Hugh E Montgomery
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  14. Viktor A Rogozkin
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Correspondence to Ildus I Ahmetov.

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Ahmetov, I., Mozhayskaya, I.A., Flavell, D.M. et al. PPARα gene variation and physical performance in Russian athletes. Eur J Appl Physiol 97, 103–108 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-006-0154-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-006-0154-4

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