title: Overrepresentation of the ACTN3 XX genotype in elite canoe and kayak paddlers.
abstract: The aim of the study was to examine the association between the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism in canoe sprint athletes (canoe and kayak paddlers) and their results at 200- or 1000-m distance. Eighty-six European white male athletes divided into 2 groups-successful, who were outstanding at national championships, and nonsuccessful in these competitions-and 354 nonathletic controls were included in this study. The R577X polymorphism of ACTN3 was typed using PCR-RFLP. ACTN3 genotype distribution among all tested athletes and controls was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The odds ratio (OR) for successful 1000-m athletes harboring the XX genotype compared with sedentary controls was 2.95 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.37-6.35), but the OR for nonsuccessful 200-m athletes having the XX genotype compared with controls was 2.64 (95% CI: 1.30-5.36). These results suggest that factors associated with the ACTN3 XX genotype in canoe and kayak paddlers might provide some competitive advantage in performance at 1000 m, but it seems to limit at 200 m. Further studies aimed at development of training strategies based on genetic factors are needed.
authors.affiliation: Departments of 1Nutrition Physiology; and 2Physiology, Institute of Sport, Warsaw, Poland; 3Department of Biological Bases of Physical Culture, Faculty of Physical Education and Health Promotion, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland; 4Department of Biology Basis of Physical Education and Sport, University of Zielona Góra, Zielona Góra, Poland; and 5Department of Anti-Doping Research, Institute of Sport, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Orysiak
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sitkowski
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zmijewski
authors.forename: Jadwiga
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malczewska-Lenczowska
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cieszczyk
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zembron-Lacny
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pokrywka
mesh_terms: D000185:Actinin / Q000235:genetics*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012767:Ships; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C118456:ACTN3 protein, human; D000185:Actinin