title: IGF-I receptor 275124A>C (rs1464430) polymorphism and athletic performance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the prevalence of the Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) 275124A>C polymorphism, known to be associated with exercise-related cardiac hypertrophy, among elite endurance and power athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fifty-nine athletes (118 men and 41 women, age: 35.9±12.2 yrs) participated in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We hypothesized that presence of the A allele will be significantly more common among endurance athletes (n=77) compared to power athletes (n=82) and non-physically active controls (n=68). Athletes within each group were further divided according to their individual best performance into elite athletes (those who had represented the country in international track-and-field or triathlon competitions or in the Olympic Games) and national-level athletes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of the AA genotype was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the endurance athletes group (49%) compared to the power athletes group (33%), but did not differ from the control group (46%). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of the AA genotype between elite and national level endurance athletes (44% versus 52%, respectively). In contrast, among power athletes, the prevalence of the AA genotype was significantly lower in the elite compared to national level athletes (17% versus 42%, respectively; p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study may suggest that the IGF-IR AA polymorphism is beneficial for endurance-type sports, but is not associated with elite endurance performance. In contrast, the presence of the AA genotype may be a disadvantage in power sports. All together the results of the present study suggest that IGF-IR polymorphism may differentiate between the two edges of the endurance-power athletic performance spectrum.
authors.affiliation: The Zinman College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at the Wingate Institute, Genetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Netanya, Israel.
authors.forename: Sigal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ben-Zaken
authors.affiliation: The Zinman College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at the Wingate Institute, Genetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Netanya, Israel.
authors.forename: Yoav
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Meckel
authors.affiliation: Child Health and Sports Center, Pediatric Department, Meir Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nemet
authors.affiliation: The Zinman College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at the Wingate Institute, Genetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Netanya, Israel; Child Health and Sports Center, Pediatric Department, Meir Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel. Electronic address: eliakim@inter.net.il.
authors.forename: Alon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eliakim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000235:genetics*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1
keywords: Endurance athletes; Exercise genetics; Growth factors; Power athletes