Examining the Frequency of COMT Gene rs4680 Polymorphism Iranian Male and Female Elite Combat Athletes

COMT gene can play an important role on the properties and activity of enzymes, dopamine level, cognitive ability and as a result in better control and performance in sports, the aim of the present study is to investigate the frequency of rs4680 polymorphism of COMT gene in the competitive performance of Iranian male and female martial arts athletes.

The subjects included 45 male martial artists (20 wrestlers, 20 taekwondo players and 5 judo players) with an average age (22.48 ± 7.18), 40 female martial artists (16 wrestlers, 4 judo players and 20 taekwondo players) with an average age (11 ± 7.13) 19) and 60 were non-athletes with an average age of (20.15 ± 73.20), DNA extraction was done from saliva samples. Tetra ARMS PCR method was used to determine the genotype, using RNAsnp and PolyPhen-2 server, the effect of mutations on the second structure of mRNA and COMT gene function was investigated. Chi-square test was used to check the frequency of genotypes.

In the analysis of COMT gene genotypes, the frequency of GA genotype in elite martial arts men and women was 25% and 27.5%, respectively, more than the non-athletes group, which was a significant difference; Also, in total, the A allele in the elite group of men and women was 23.75% more than the control group and the difference was also significant.

It seems that there is a positive relationship between the GA genotype and the A allele of the COMT gene polymorphism with being elite in martial arts, which can be considered as one of the genetic factors that influence the success of martial artists at the professional level.