Comparison of Total Genotype Score (TGS) of Power/ Strength Responsible ACE, HIF1α and IGF1 Polymorphisms of Elite, Amateur Karate-kas vs. non-Athletes

Human athletic performance is an enormously complex multifactorial phenomenon, and is affected by numerous intrinsic (genetics) and extrinsic factors (e.g., training, nutrition). Total genotype score is a new model that was developed as a favorable polygenic profile in the elite athlete group, so the aim of this survey was the comparison of total genotype score of power/ strength responsible ACE, HIF1α and IGF1 polymorphisms of elite, amateur karate-kas vs. non-athletes.

 This survey was done on 252 healthy Isfahanian subjects aged 27.2 ± 7.4 years including 124 males and 128 females sub-divided into elite (N= 80); amateur (N= 86) vs. non-athlete (N= 86 people with the same anthropometric characteristic by elite and amateur corps) groups. The amount of 5cc blood from brachiocephalic vein was taken in tubes including EDTA, then DNA was extracted using a modified salting-out method; polymorphisms were determined by PCR; and the restriction fragment lengths of the products were analyzed by electrophoretic separation, so TGS was calculated finally. Non–parametric Chi-Square and one-way ANOVA by using the SPSS software were used to assess the statistical differences. The level of significance was considered at P <0.05.

Genotyping analyses indicated that in elite karate-ka, an increase in DD frequency was observed (63.0%) compared to non-athlete (41.0%) and amateur Karate-ka groups, significantly (14.7%) (χ2=14.430; P=0.011); but genotype distribution of HIF1α (χ2=2.746, P=0.60) and IGF1 (χ2=1.549, P=0.81) weren’t significantly different.  In addition, the mean of TGS of elite karate-kas (69.85) was higher than amateur Karate-kas (64.40) and non-athlete (63.37), but it wasn’t significant (F=1.66, P=0.08). 

Results have proved that the ACE is a sensitive polymorphism tool to differentiate elite from amateur karate-kas. Additionally, the use of TGS hadn’t been revealed in survey because karate has the multifactorial demands to for success likely; so, the genetic talent needs to be checked by a variety of polymorphisms in different geographical zones, too.