TITLE:
Is ACTN3 R577X Genotype Associated with a Preference in Type of Exercise Such as Sprint or Endurance?
AUTHORS:
Toshiyuki Kawamura, Akihiro Azuma, Kazuhiro Matsui
KEYWORDS:
α-Actinin-3, Genotype, Preference, Type of Exercise
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Physical Education,
Vol.11 No.2,
May
19,
2021
ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine whether genotypes in the α-actinin-3 gene are associated with preferences in the type of exercise (sprint vs. endurance) in male college students. The study enrolled 64 healthy male students aged 18-21 years old, excluding elite athletes. DNA was extracted from the subjects’ hair samples to determine the genotypes of the α-actinin-3 gene, whereas a simple questionnaire was used to investigate preference in the type of exercise. In summary, 35.5% of subjects with the RR and RX types (R-allele group) preferred sprint, whereas 47.3% of subjects with the XX type preferred endurance. Furthermore, 53.3% of the R-allele group and 31.6% of the XX group preferred endurance and sprint, respectively. This implies that the inconsistency (or mismatch) between muscle functional properties, which are characterized by genotypes and preference in type of exercise, tends to be greater in the R-allele group than in the XX type. In conclusion, the genotypes of α-actinin-3 did not play a significant role in deciding the preference in type of exercise. It can also be suspected that the mismatch between muscle functional properties and exercise preference is influenced by the daily life of students who are not exposed to high-intensity exercise stimuli.