The ACTN-3 c.1729C>T (rs1815739) Polymorphism Is Associated with Match-Play Maximal Running Speed in Elite Football Players: A Preliminary Report

The TT genotype of the ACTN-3 polymorphism (rs1815739) has been previously associated with lower sprinting and jumping performance, higher frequency and severity of muscle injuries and eccentric muscle damage in professional football players. This study examined the influence of rs1815739 polymorphism on maximal running speed (MRS) during official matches in elite football players. MRS was collected, using a Global Position System (GPS) at high sampling frequencies (50 Hz), from 45 footballers of the same team during 26 official matches (707 match observations). A buccal swab was used to extract genomic DNA, and an RFLP PCR technique was used to determine the ACTN-3 genotype. The main finding of the present study was that CC players showed significantly higher MRS than TT players (CC = 33.1 ± 1.3 km·h−1; CT = 32.7 ± 1.6 km·h−1; TT = 31.5 ± 1.9 km·h−1, p = 0.041). Moreover, the players harboring a copy of the C allele showed a trend toward higher MRS than TT genotype (CC + CT = 32.9 ± 1.5 km·h−1 vs. TT = 31.5 ± 1.9 km·h−1, p = 0.06). We found, for the first time, an association between the ACTN-3 polymorphism and match-play MRS in elite football players. Our results bring new knowledge to the literature regarding the advantage conferred by the C allele (CC and CT genotypes) of the ACTN-3 polymorphism on sprint performance in football providing perspectives for modulating the speed training program in relation to ACTN-3 genotypes, enhancing performance avoiding muscle lesions.