PPAR[alpha] gene variation and physical performance in Russian athletes

• Published in: European journal of applied physiology 2006-05, Vol.97 (1), p.103
• Main Authors: Ahmetov, Ildus I, Mozhayskaya, Irina A, Flavell, David M, Astratenkova, Irina V, Komkova, Antonina I, Lyubaeva, Ekaterina V, Tarakin, Pavel P, Shenkman, Boris S, Vdovina, Anastasia B, Netreba, Aleksei I, Popov, Daniil V, Vinogradova, Olga L, Montgomery, Hugh E, Rogozkin, Viktor A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fatty acids; Muscular system
• ISSN: 1439-6319; 1439-6327
• DOI: 10.1007/s00421-006-0154-4

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