Association of SOD2 Polymorphism (Rs4880) and Competitive Performance in Track and Field Athletes

Abstract

The rs4880 polymorphism in the SOD2 gene has frequently been associated with the athletic performance of the athletes in different populations. However, there were not any studies in the Turkish elite athletes. Thus, the aim of the study is to evaluate the impacts of SOD2 rs4880 polymorphism on competitive performance of Turkish elite athletes. A total of 60 elite athletes (31 sprint/power and 29 endurance) and 20 controls with the ages of 18-35 voluntarily participated in the study. World Athletics (WA) score table was used to determine the performance levels of the competitive performance/personal best (PB) of the athletes. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed by the genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood of the participants. Sport type, sex and competitive performance were chosen as the parameters to compare within and between the groups by linear regression models. There were not any significances between the genotype and allele frequencies. Finally, there were not any associations between competitive performance and genotype frequencies within the sprint/power athletes while competitive performance was significantly (p=0.049) correlated with rs4880 polymorphism according to the over-dominant model within the endurance athletes. The rs4880 polymorphism in the SOD2 gene may be linked to the competitive performance of the endurance athletes. Still, further studies with more participants and analyzing multiple factors are needed.