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Obesity is a complex health risk influenced by genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. This review systematically assessed the association between interleukin gene polymorphisms (rs16944, rs17561, rs1143623, rs1143633, rs1143634, rs1800587, rs2234677, and rs4848306), IL-4 (rs180275, rs1805010, IL-6 rs13306435, rs1800795, rs1800796, rs1800797, rs2228145, rs2228145, rs2229238, and rs4845623), IL-10 (rs1518110, rs1518111, rs1800871, rs1800872, rs1800896, rs1878672, rs2834167, rs3024491, rs3024496, rs3024498, and rs3024505), IL-15 (rs3136617, rs3136618, and rs2296135), and IL-18 (rs187238, rs1946518, rs2272127, rs2293225, and rs7559479) and the risk of overweight and obesity in adults, focusing on IL-6 rs1800795 through a meta-analysis. The focus on IL-6 in this review arises from its pleiotropic nature and unclear effect on obesity risk. The review included studies published from 1998 to 2023, sourced from Science Direct, EBSCOhost, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Bias was assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration tool, and funnel plots were used for publication bias. Results were synthesized into pooled odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs). Thirty studies comprising approximately 29,998 participants were included. The selection criteria required that the articles include participants who were overweight or obese, and this condition needed to be linked to IL polymorphisms. In a meta-analysis, in the dominant model, the pooled OR was 1.26 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.47), indicating those with the GC/CC genotype for IL-6 rs1800795 are 1.26 times more likely to be overweight/obese than GG genotype carriers. For the recessive model, the OR was 1.25 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.51). The overdominant model showed no significant association (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.25). Interleukin gene variation, particularly the IL-6 rs1800795 variant, is modestly associated with obesity risk. This suggests that other factors, such as the environment, also play a role in obesity. Thus, individuals with this particular IL-6 variant may have a slightly higher likelihood of being overweight or obese compared to those without it, but this is just one of many factors influencing obesity risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This narrative review explores the relationship between genetics and elite endurance athletes, summarizes the current literature, highlights some novel findings, and provides a physiological basis for understanding the mechanistic effects of genetics in sport. Key genetic markers include ACTN3 R577X (muscle fiber composition), ACE I/D (cardiovascular efficiency), and polymorphisms in PPARA, VEGFA, and ADRB2, influencing energy metabolism, angiogenesis, and cardiovascular function. This review underscores the benefits of a multi-omics approach to better understand the complex interactions between genetic polymorphisms and physiological traits. It also addresses long-standing issues such as small sample sizes in studies and the heterogeneity in heritability estimates influenced by factors like sex. Understanding the mechanistic relationship between genetics and endurance performance can lead to personalized training strategies, injury prevention, and improved health outcomes. Future studies should focus on standardized classification of sports, replication studies involving diverse populations, and establishing solid physiological associations between polymorphisms and endurance traits to advance the field of sports genetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity increases the risk of non-contact injuries, mainly affecting muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Genetic factors are recognized as contributing to susceptibility to different types of soft tissue injuries, making this broad condition a complicated multifactorial entity. Understanding genetic predisposition seems to offer the potential for personalized injury prevention and improved recovery strategies. The candidate gene analysis approach used so far, has often yielded inconclusive results. This manuscript reviews the most commonly studied genetic variants in genes involved in the musculoskeletal system's structure and recovery processes (ACTN3, ACE, CKM, MLCK, AMPD1, IGF2, IL6, TNFα, CCL2, COL1A1, COL5A1, MMP3, and TNC). Referring to the literature, it was highlighted that single-gene analyses provide limited insight. On the other hand, novel genetic testing methods identify numerous variants of uncertain physiological relevance. Distinguishing between functionally important variants, modifying variants, and the thousands of irrelevant variants requires advanced bioinformatics methods and basic multiomics research to identify the key biological pathways contributing to injury susceptibility. Tools like the Total Genotype Score (TGS) and Polygenic Risk Score (PRS) offer a more holistic view by assessing the combined effect of multiple variants. However, these methods, while useful in research, lack clinical applicability. In conclusion, it is too early to determine the clinical implications of genetic variability as a tool for improving well-established training and injury prevention methods, as the predictive power of genetic testing for injury predisposition is currently low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The TTN gene encodes a large muscle protein called titin, which provides structure, stability, and flexibility to skeletal and cardiac sarcomeres. The aim of this study was to determine whether the TTN C > T polymorphism (rs10497520) influenced training-induced changes in selected variables of aerobic and anaerobic capacity. We studied genotypes distribution in a group of 156 Caucasian females examined for aerobic capacity evaluated by maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), and anaerobic capacity measured with the Wingate anaerobic test, before and after a 12-week training program. The most important finding was a genotype by training interaction for anaerobic capacity (AnC) during the Wingate test (p = 0.003). In response to training, carriers of the CT and TT genotypes demonstrated a significant increase in the total amount of work accomplished. We also showed that the applied training program improved all the Wingate test variables in the CT + TT genotype group by 10%. The obtained results suggest that the CT and TT genotypes may enhance anaerobic power and anaerobic capacity changes induced by regular training. We also suggest that T allele carriers may possess a metabolic adaptive advantage towards the anaerobic metabolism. Thus, the TTN gene may be considered a promising marker used in sports science, underlying variability in achieving sporting goals in events where the anaerobic energy system predominates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hand grip strength is a widely used proxy of muscular fitness, a marker of frailty, and predictor of a range of morbidities and all-cause mortality. To investigate the genetic determinants of variation in grip strength, we perform a large-scale genetic discovery analysis in a combined sample of 195,180 individuals and identify 16 loci associated with grip strength (P

HTR1A (5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1A) and its polymorphic variants are highly important for athletes in different aspects, allowing us to hypothesize their biological influences. Hence, to investigate at least part of the relationship mentioned in the case literature, it was decided to study the association of the selected HTR1A polymorphism with personality traits measured by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). The participants consisted of 250 mixed martial arts (combat sport) athletes and 209 healthy male participants (control group). The personality traits were measured for the Revised Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI-R). Genetic material was isolated from whole blood collected from patients, and then all samples were genotyped using the real-time PCR method. Statistical analysis was performed using a 2 x 3 factorial ANOVA. The research revealed a statistically significant effect of a complex factor of rs6295 of the HTR1A serotonin receptor gene with combat sport/control and with Novelty Seeking (F2,453 = 6.126; p = 0.0024; η² = 0.026) and Harm Avoidance (F2,453 = 3.709; p = 0.0252; η² = 0.016). The presence of the HTR1A GG genotype (rs6295) was found to be associated with higher scores in self-management and lower scores in harm avoidance, indicating genetic predispositions in the strength group towards better results in combat sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anterior cruciate ligament injuries (ACLIs) are one of the most common knee injuries in sports. Although numerous factors have been related to the risk of ACLIs, it is still unclear why some individuals are more susceptible than others due to the intricate etiology of ACLIs. Several genetic factors have been identified as contributing to ACLIs. This systematic review summarizes the current evidence regarding the genetic causes of ACLIs based on the available literature. Five electronic databases were searched from 2017 to 2022. All titles, abstracts, and full texts were reviewed in detail to determine the inclusions and exclusions. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate the risk of bias. The studies' characteristics and results are presented in both narrative and tabular formats. A total of 24 studies examined 31 genes and 62 variants associated with ACLIs in the global population. Ten studies investigated seven collagens and ten SNPs for the ACL injury. The majority of studies found no significant difference in the association of the COL1A1 rs1800012, COL5A1 rs12722, VEGFA rs1570360, IL6R rs2228145, IL6 rs1800795, IL1B rs16944 and rs1143627, however, contrary results were found when nationality and gender were considered together. Conflicting evidence was found for polymorphisms rs2010963, rs699947 of the VEGFA gene in different studies. Due to a lack of data, it was impossible to determine the relationship between the anterior cruciate ligament rupture (ACLR) and the other polymorphisms. More research is required to establish a clear relationship between the ACLR and genetic variants, particularly when gender and nationality are taken into account separately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sports injuries are the most common cause of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures. Previous research has demonstrated links between some of the COL27A1 and COL11A1 genetic variants and musculoskeletal soft tissue injuries. However, no previous research has investigated the COL27A1 rs1570460 and the COL11A1 rs3753841 in the context of ACL rupture in any population. Thus, our study aimed to assess the association between specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), i.e., COL27A1 rs946053 and COL11A1 rs3753841, and the occurrence of ACL injury (ACL-I) in a cohort of Polish athletes. Methods: The study enrolled 233 athletes with ACL-I (161 males and 71 females) and 228 healthy control athletes (143 males and 85 females) with no prior ACL-I history. Genotyping was conducted to assess the presence of COL27A1 rs946053 and COL11A1 rs3753841 genetic variants. Statistical analyses were performed using the R programming environment and package, and an association between SNPs and ACL-I was tested in four genetic models: dominant, co-dominant recessive, and over-dominant. Results: All the analyzed polymorphisms conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). The study revealed no significant differences between the ACL-I and control groups. Conclusions: Despite the absence of significant associations between the investigated SNPs and ACL-I in this study, our findings highlight the importance of continued research to unravel the precise genetic risk mechanisms and etiological factors contributing to ACL-I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine neuromuscular and torque kinetic changes after 10 months of explosive sport training in the elbow of prepubertal gymnasts compared with untrained age-matched controls. Methods: In 15 young gymnasts (9.02 [0.41] y) and 15 age-matched untrained males (8.76 [0.51] y), the rate of torque development (RTD) using the Biodex System 4 and the coactivation index were evaluated using electromyography. Explosive strength variables were normalized to the peak torque. Measures were determined twice: before and after a 10-month period of gymnastic training. Covariation analysis was used to account for differences in baseline values between gymnasts and controls. Results: After 10 months of training, gymnasts demonstrated a significantly (P <.05) greater increase in normalized peak RTD values in elbow flexion compared with controls (7.76% vs 0.65%). Covariation analysis also revealed a significantly (P <.05) greater reduction in the coactivation index of elbow extension in the gymnasts (−7.81% [5.44%] points) compared with controls (−1.23% [6.32%] points). Conclusions: Compared with physical development alone, 10 months of explosive-strength training of young gymnasts is sufficient to increase torque-normalized RTD in the elbow joint of prepubertal boys. The RTD changes the authors observed in antagonistic elbow functions vary among gymnasts due to the specific demands of gymnastic training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

W e compared the effects of 16-week-training on rest metabolic rate, aerobic power, and body fat, and the post-exercise effects upon rest oxygen uptake and respiratory exchange ratio in overweight middle-aged females. Twenty nine overweight women (BMI 29.9 ± 1.2 kg*m-²) participated in training (3 days a week). The subjects were divided onto groups of aerobic (AT) and strength (ST) training. The results showed that the total body mass decrease and VO2 max increase did not differ in both groups. Decrease in waist circumference after 16 weeks was higher in the ST group. In the ST group fat-free mass increased during the first 8 weeks. Rest metabolic rate was increased significantly at 16th week compared to initial value in ST group only. Significant increase in post-exercise resting VO2 and respiratory exchange ratio at 12 and 36 h was observed after the strength training session only. Increase in rest metabolic rate and post-exercise rest energy expenditure occurred after strength training but not after aerobic training despite the similar increase in aerobic power. The effect of 8-16 weeks of strength training on body mass decrease was higher in comparison to aerobic training.