Int J Sports Med 2018; 39(14): 1088-1093
DOI: 10.1055/a-0753-4973
Genetics & Molecular Biology
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Evidence for a Role of ACTN3 R577X Polymorphism in Football Player’s Career Progression

Daniel Barbosa Coelho
1   Federal University of Ouro Preto, Sports Center, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
,
Eduardo Mendonça Pimenta
2   Federal University of Minas Gerais, School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Physiologi Department, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
,
Izinara Cruz Rosse
3   Federal University of Minas Gerais, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of General Biology, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
,
Bruno Magalhães de Castro
1   Federal University of Ouro Preto, Sports Center, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
,
Lenice Kappes Becker
1   Federal University of Ouro Preto, Sports Center, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
,
Emerson Cruz de Oliveira
1   Federal University of Ouro Preto, Sports Center, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
,
Maria Raquel Santos Carvalho
3   Federal University of Minas Gerais, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of General Biology, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
,
Emerson Silami Garcia
2   Federal University of Minas Gerais, School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Physiologi Department, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted 20 September 2018

Publication Date:
06 November 2018 (online)

Abstract

The aim was to investigate a possible role of the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism in a Brazilian football player’s career progression. 2 questions were formulated: 1. Does ACTN3 polymorphism affect the probability of an individual being a professional football player? 2. Does this polymorphism affect the progression of the athlete throughout his career? The study included 353 players from first division Brazilian football clubs in the following categories: under-14 (U-14), U-15, U-17, U-20, and professional (PRO). The control group (CON) was composed of 100 healthy non-athletes. The chi-squared test was used to assess differences between the allele and genotype frequencies. Comparing football categories, the XX genotype was less frequent among professional players than in the U-20 (p<0.05) or the U-15 category (p<0.05). The RX genotype also presented more frequently in the PRO category than the U-14 category (p<0.05). Moreover, a trend towards a higher frequency of the RX genotype and a lower frequency of the XX genotype was observed in the professional category compared to U-20. These results suggest that the genotype in the ACTN3 polymorphism affects the probability of a football player progressing throughout his career and becoming professional, meaning that playing football selects against the ACTN3 XX genotype.

 
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