Does the PPARA Intron 7 Gene Variant (rs4253778) Influence Performance in Power/Strength‐Oriented Athletes? A Case‐Control Replication Study in three Cohorts of European Gymnasts

Athletic ability is influenced by several exogenous and endogenous factors including genetic component. Hundreds of gene variants have been proposed as potential markers associated with fitness-related phenotypes well elite-level athletic performance. Among others, within the PPARA that code for peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α are interest. The main goal present study was to determine (G/C, rs4253778) genotype distribution among a group Polish, Lithuanian Italian international level male gymnasts compare our findings those previous research on frequency intron 7 C allele/CC in power/strength-oriented athletes. A total 464 subjects (147 317 controls) from Poland (n = 203), Italy 146) Lithuania 107) participated study. No statistically significant differences were found any analyzed cohorts. However, significantly higher CC rs4253778 polymorphism observed when all pooled compared control using recessive model inheritance (OR 3.33, 95% CI 1.18-10, p 0.022). It important know we investigated relatively small sample European results limited only participants. Thus, it necessary validate larger cohorts athletes different ethnicities also female find out whether there gender effect.