Search

The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is an important candidate gene in musculoskeletal phenotypes. Polymorphisms in the VDR have been previously associated with several pathologies and muscular strength in athletes and elderly people; however, the literature reported contradictory results. The object of this research was to verify the association between the most studied VDR variants (rs2228570, rs7975232, and rs1544410) and the increase in muscle mass in elite young soccer players. A sample of 55 soccer players (15–18 years old) from a professional team were selected for this study. DNA was extracted by the salting-out method, and polymorphisms were genotyped by PCR-RFLP, followed by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. To test the effect of the three SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms), a logistic regression analysis was applied. The body composition determination was carried out through the skinfold thickness method, and the muscular area of the arm and lower limb were calculated using the Frisancho formula. All three polymorphisms met the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (p > 0.05) and their frequencies fell within the worldwide variability. A significant correlation between rs1544410 and the increase in calf muscle mass was observed. Individuals carrying the A allele showed higher calf muscular mass than those carrying the G allele (p = 0.034). Moreover, a haplotype analysis applied to the two SNPs in linkage disequilibrium (rs7975232 and rs1544410) showed that the AG haplotype appeared negatively correlated to the calf muscle area. In conclusion, we confirm an association between VDR polymorphisms and muscular mass that could encourage the genetic screening of the VDR gene to identify a potential risk of injury and for individual nutritional interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the current study was to construct a genetic model with a new algorithm for predicting athletic-performance variability based on genetic variations. Methods: The influence of 6 polymorphisms (ACE, ACTN-3, BDKRB2, VDR-ApaI, VDR-BsmI, and VDR-FokI) on vertical jump was studied in top-level male Italian soccer players (n = 90). First, the authors calculated the traditional total genotype score and then determined the total weighting genotype score (TWGS), which accounts for the proportion of significant phenotypic variance predicted by the polymorphisms. Genomic DNA was extracted from saliva samples using a standard protocol. Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The results obtained from the new genetic model (TWGS) showed that only 3 polymorphisms entered the regression equation (ACTN-3, ACE, and BDKRB2), and these polymorphisms explained 17.68-24.24% of the vertical-jump variance. With the weighting given to each polymorphism, it may be possible to identify a polygenic profile that more accurately explains, at least in part, the individual variance of athletic-performance traits. Conclusions: This model may be used to create individualized training programs based on a player's genetic predispositions, as well as to identify athletes who need an adapted training routine to account for individual susceptibility to injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the MCT1 (monocarboxylate transporter 1) A1470T polymorphism and positional roles in a large cohort of professional football players from five different countries. We compared genotype distributions of the MCT1 A1470T polymorphism between football players (n = 694) and non-athlete controls (n = 781) from Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine and Malta, and we analyzed the MCT1 genotype distributions with respect to the players' positions in the field (e. g. forwards, midfielders, defenders and goalkeepers). Genomic DNA was extracted from either buccal epithelium or peripheral blood using a standard protocol. In the pooled cohort of Italian, Polish, Lithuanian and Ukrainian football players, forwards (n = 148) were more likely than controls (n = 781) to possess the A allele ( χ² = 7.067, p = 0.029, FDR q value 0.116), with a greater likelihood of having the AA genotype compared with the TT genotype (OR = 1.97; C.I. = 1.07-3.64; p = 0.021, FDR q value 0.086). The MCT1 AA genotype was significantly more frequent in forwards then in controls. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings in other professional football player cohorts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly 35 years after its initial publication in 1989, the Italian Society of Sports Cardiology and the Italian Federation of Sports Medicine (FMSI), in collaboration with other leading Italian Cardiological Scientific Associations (ANCE - National Association of Outpatient Cardiology, ANMCO - National Association of Inpatient Cardiology, SIC - Italian Society of Cardiology), proudly present the 2023 version of the Cardiological Guidelines for Competitive Sports Eligibility. This publication is an update of the previous guidelines, offering a comprehensive and detailed guide for the participation of athletes with heart disease in sports. This edition incorporates the latest advances in cardiology and sports medicine, providing current information and recommendations. It addresses various topics, including the details of the pre-participation screening in Italy and recommendations for sports eligibility and disqualification in competitive athletes with various heart conditions. This revised version of the Cardiological Guidelines for Competitive Sports Eligibility, recorded in the Italian Guidelines Registry of the Italian Minister of Health, stands as a crucial resource for sports medicine professionals, cardiologists, and healthcare providers, marked by its completeness, reliability, and scientific thoroughness. It is an indispensable tool for those involved in the care, management and eligibility process of competitive athletes with heart conditions.

Background: At the beginning of March 2020, because of the ongoing pandemic, all sport events were suspended in Italy. The Italian Serie A league abruptly interrupted all competitions and teams could not train in a group anymore. These containment measures were gradually eased in May. The aim of this study was to ascertain the impact of the lockdown-restart transition on the body composition of a group of Italian footballers of a Serie A team during the pandemic., Methods: The body composition of 18 male football players (age 27.6±4.5 years) from an Italian Serie A team was studied by bioelectrical impedance (BIA). Measures were conducted after lockdown, when they restarted to train in group with the ball (T0), and after the first regular match (T1)., Results: Results show that there were no changes in body mass, body mass index, fat mass, fat-free mass, and total body water between T0 and T1. Differently, intracellular water, extracellular water, and phase angle were changed., Conclusions: We concluded that the lockdown did not have any impact in athletes' body composition as they kept training at home. Moreover, the BIA method was able to detect subtle signals of shift in body water compartments (intra cellular and extra cellular water) likely due to the different kind of training conducted during and after the lockdown.