Outdoor sports performance in Egyptian athletes: the role of ACTN3 genetic variation

Abstract

This study examines the influence of the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism on outdoor sports performance among male athletes in Egypt. It hypothesizes that the R allele is positively associated with enhanced athletic capabilities. The research involved 51 athletes engaged in swimming and running, with a mean age of 16.0 years, compared to 55 untrained male controls, aged 14.5 years. Using PCR-RFLP for genotyping, significant differences were observed in genotype distributions; 61.9% of the athlete group displayed the R/R genotype, compared to 27.3% of controls (p < 0.001). The presence of the R allele was markedly higher in athletes (77.5%) than in controls (55.9%), while controls exhibited a greater prevalence of the X allele (44.1% vs 22.5%). These findings reinforce the notion that the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism is a crucial factor in outdoor sports performance among Egyptian youth, emphasizing the role of genetics in athletic training and talent identification. Further investigations are necessary to explore the implications of these genetic variations across diverse athletic disciplines and contexts.