Abstract:

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of PPAR-a (rs4253778) on serum lipids in elite cross-country skiers. This study included 34 cross-country skiers (23 males and 11 females who participated in the Turkish skiing national team camp). Genotyping for the PPAR-a gene rs4253778 G/C polymorphism was performed by PCR on Tercyk multicanal amplificator and restriction enzyme digestion. Statistical analysis was done by using the SPSS 22.0 package program. Genotypic frequency of the PPAR-a polymorphism was detected in cross-country skiers. PPAR-a GG, GC and CC genotypes were detected as 67.64%, 23.52% and 8.82%, respectively in 34 cross-country skiers while PPAR-a GG, GC and CC genotypes were detected as 47.05%, 16.64%, and 2.94%, respectively in elite males. PPAR-a GG, GC and CC genotypes were detected as 20.58 %, 5.88%, and 5.88%, respectively in females. PPAR-a G and C allele were detected as 49 and 19, respectively in 34 elite endurance athletes. In the present study, the GG genotypes were detected at higher frequencies in elite athletes (67.64% respectively) than GC and CC (23.52% and 8.82%, respectively). The difference between the PPAR-a G/C gene polymorphism of Turkish elite cross-country skiers and serum total cholesterol, HDL- cholesterol, LDL- cholesterol and TG levels was not statistically significant. Although there was not any statistically significant difference between the PPAR-a G/C gene polymorphism and lipid profiles of Turkish elite cross-country skiers, it is foreseen that PPAR-α genes have an important effect on endurance performance in sports requiring endurance such as cross-country skiing.

Keywords: