Genetics and power and speed in elite youth soccer

We investigated the association of multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with athlete status and power/speed performance in elite male youth soccer players (ESP) and control participants (CON) at different stages of maturation. ESP (n=535; aged 8-23 years) and CON (n=151; aged 9-26 years) were genotyped for 10 SNPs and grouped according to years from/to predicted peak-height-velocity (PHV), i.e. pre- or post-PHV, to determine maturation status. Participants performed bilateral vertical countermovement jumps, bilateral horizontal-forward countermovement jumps, 20m sprints and modified 505-agility tests. Compared to CON, pre-PHV ESP demonstrated a higher <i>ACTN3 </i>(rs1815739)<i> </i>X-allele frequency distribution, while post-PHV ESP revealed a higher frequency distribution of the <i>PPARA </i>(rs4253778) C-allele, <i>AGT </i>(rs699) GG genotype<i> </i>and <i>NOS3 </i>(rs2070744) T-allele. <i>BDNF </i>(rs6265)<i> </i>CC, <i>COL5A1 </i>(rs12722) CC and <i>NOS3 </i>TT homozygotes sprinted quicker than A-allele carriers, CT heterozygotes and CC homozygotes, respectively. <i>COL2A1 </i>(rs2070739)<i> </i>CC and <i>AMPD1 </i>(rs17602729) GG homozygotes sprinted faster than their respective minor allele carrier counterparts in CON and pre-PHV ESP, respectively. <i>BDNF </i>CC homozygotes jumped further than T-allele carriers, while ESP<i> COL5A1</i><i> </i>CC homozygotes jumped higher than TT homozygotes. To conclude, we have shown for the first time that pre- and post-PHV ESP have distinct genetic profiles, with pre-PHV ESP more suited for endurance, and post-PHV ESP for power and speed (the latter phenotypes being crucial attributes for post-PHV ESP). We have also demonstrated that power, acceleration and sprint performance were associated with five SNPs, both individually and in combination, possibly by influencing muscle size and neuromuscular activation.