Association analysis between body composition andsomatotypecharacteristics and actn3 gene in elite Spanish volleyball players

Abstract

Nature is a powerful influencing factor in the sports performance. The balance between genes and environment is present in the highest performance 46 12th International Scientific Conference of Sport Kinetics 2011 level in sports, such as volleyball. The somatotypes and body composition characteristics have been studied deeply, and the genetic factor, ACTN3 genotypes, seems to be present due to the explosive requirements in multiple sports. The aim of this study was to determine the possible association between morphological characteristics and ACTN3 genotypes. The sample was evaluated during pre-season schedule, and composed by 158 players (85 male, 73 female), all of them belonging to the highest competition level in Spain. The somatotypes (Endomorphic, Mesomorphic, Ectomorphic components, scales and their respective classifications) were calculated through anthropometric measurements, following the ISAK guidelines (Anthorpometrist Level 3). The genotypes of the ACTN3 R577X gene (XX, RX, RR) were analyzed. No association was found between the anthropometric measurements (muscle mass (MME), bone mass (BM), fat free mass (FFM), their percentages, and classifications) and ACTN3 genotypes for male and female. However, there were some somatotypes differences statistical significant in females, but no in males. These differences shown the lower levels of mesomorphic component and scores in mesomorphic importance classification in RR genotype (p=0,014) followed by the RX (p=0,005) regarding to XX genotype. In conclusion, these findings could occur because of the different adaptation requirements of the RR, RX and XX carriers, showing that the slow fibers could maintain better the gains acquired in the last season.