Influence of genetic factors on the maximum oxygen consumption in young rowers of different sports qualification

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of five polymorphisms: the Alu I/D of the angiotensin converting enzyme gene (ACE), the R577X of alpha-actinin-3 gene (ACTN3), 4b/a of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) gene, the Ala55Val of the uncoupling protein 2 gene (UCP2), -55C/T of uncoupling protein 3 gene (UCP3) as well as sports experience on the VO2max in young rowers with different sports qualifications. Materials and methods. We examined six athletes with the candidate for a master of sports qualification (KMS group) and sixteen rowers without sports rang (all athletes aged 15-21 years). The VO2max was determined on a rower ergometer using a gas analyzer, genetic polymorphisms in buccal epithelium DNA or in leukocytes were analyzed by PCR. The sum of the alleles (index Σ) associated with the high athletic result in rowing was calculated as Σ= ACE I+ACTN3 R+ NOS3 b + UCP2 Val + UCP3 T. Results. It was found that the KMS rowers had higher parameters than the athletes without sports rang: VO2max (p <0.001), athletic experience (p<0.001), as well as the frequency of the ACE I allele (p = 0.035) and Σ (p = 0.002). Differences in the frequency of the genotypes of polymorphisms ACTN3 R577X, NOS3 4b/a, UCP2 Ala55Val and UCP3 -55C/T between groups were not revealed. VO2max correlated with Σ (р = 0,020) and sports experience (р = 0,001). The conclusion. The increased level of VO2max in rowers with qualifications of KMS is due to the interaction of the genetic predisposition as indicated to more alleles in the genes (ACE I, ACTN3 R, NOS3 b, UCP2 Val and UCP3 T), associated with different endurance components, and longer periods of rowing.

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