The A-allele of the FTO Gene rs9939609 Polymorphism Is Associated With Decreased Proportion of Slow Oxidative Muscle Fibers and Over-represented in Heavier Athletes. Issue 3 (March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guilherme, João Paulo L.F.; Egorova, Emiliya S.; Semenova, Ekaterina A.; Kostryukova, Elena S.; Kulemin, Nickolay A.; Borisov, Oleg V.; Khabibova, Sofya A.; Larin, Andrey K.; Ospanova, Elena A.; Pavlenko, Alexander V.; Lyubaeva, Ekaterina V.; Popov, Daniil V.; Lysenko, Evgeny A.; Vepkhvadze, Tatiana F.; Lednev, Egor M.; Govorun, Vadim M.; Generozov, Edward V.; Ahmetov, Ildus I.; Lancha Junior, Antonio H.
• Is Part Of: Journal of strength and conditioning research. Volume 33:Issue 3(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-03
• Subjects: genetics -- genotype -- muscle fiber–type -- body mass -- weight -- athletic status; Physical education and training -- Periodicals; Weight training -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Physical fitness -- Periodicals; 613.7
• DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1064-8011

Abstract

Abstract : Abstract: Guilherme, JPLF, Egorova, ES, Semenova, EA, Kostryukova, ES, Kulemin, NA, Borisov, OV, Khabibova, SA, Larin, AK, Ospanova, EA, Pavlenko, AV, Lyubaeva, EV, Popov, DV, Lysenko, EA, Vepkhvadze, TF, Lednev, EM, Govorun, VM, Generozov, EV, Ahmetov, II, and Lancha Junior, AH. The A-allele of the FTO gene rs9939609 polymorphism is associated with decreased proportion of slow oxidative muscle fibers and over-represented in heavier athletes. J Strength Cond Res 33(3): 691–700, 2019—The purpose of this study was to explore the frequency of the FTO T > A (rs9939609) polymorphism in elite athletes from 2 cohorts (Brazil and Russia), as well as to find a relationship between FTO genotypes and muscle fiber composition. A total of 677 athletes and 652 nonathletes were evaluated in the Brazilian cohort, whereas a total of 920 athletes and 754 nonathletes were evaluated in the Russian cohort. It was found a trend for a lower frequency of A/A genotype in long-distance athletes compared with nonathletes (odds ratio [OR]: 0.65; p = 0.054). By contrast, it was found an increased frequency of the A-allele in Russian power athletes. The presence of the T/A + A/A genotypes rather than T/T increased the OR of being a Russian power athlete compared with matched nonathletes (OR: 1.45; p = 0.002). Different from that observed in combat sports athletes of lighter weight categories, the A-allele was also over-represented in combat sports athletes of heavier weight categories. The presence of the T/A + A/A genotypes rather than T/T increased the OR of being a combat sports athlete of heavier weight categories compared with nonathletes (OR: 1.79; p = 0.018). Regarding the muscle fibers, we found that carriers of the A/A genotype had less slow-twitch muscle fibers than T-allele carriers ( p = 0.029). In conclusion, the A/A genotype of the FTO T > A polymorphism is under-represented in athletes more reliant on a lean phenotype and associated with decreased proportion of slow-twitch muscle fibers, while is over-represented in strength and heavier athletes.