STRESS HORMONE LEVELS and ACTN3 GENOTYPE IN YOUNG SOCCER PLAYERS
STRESS HORMONE LEVELS and ACTN3 GENOTYPE IN YOUNG SOCCER PLAYERS

Summary/Abstract: The studies show an exercise induced increasing of cortisol plasma concentrations in high level athletes, positive connected with sport performance. The aim of this study is to determine the ACTN3 genotype and its relation with the changes in ACTH and cortisol plasma levels of soccer players aged 15-17 years. 46 soccer players, aged 15-17 years, were included is this study. During a second half soccer season of 4 months (which starts after a month of rest after the finishing of first half season and usually the clubs have more time for preparation in winter period in this season) three times (at the beginning - P1, after 6 weeks of preparation period, before the start of the competitions - P2 and after the finishing of this process - P3), we measured: anaerobic threshold (AnT, km/h) and maximal speed of running (Max, km/h) with Conconi protocol on treadmill (after warming up on 6km/h, starting from 8km/h, after each 200 m, the treadmill speed was increased for 0.5km/h until individual maximal running speed and point of deflection was obtained) and venous blood was taken before and after maximal exercise test and plasma levels of cortisol (ug/dl) and ACTH (pg/ml) by chemiluminometry enzyme amplificated method. “The fast gene (RR variant) is also the most frequent one (44%) in our study, although the less frequent than in other countries, reported in relevant studies. In our study, the percentage of RX variant is also high (41%). The conclusion for possible overreaching or overtraining could be confirmed or excluded with more other laboratory findings and mood tests. In our study, we had insignificant changes of AnT and cortisol plasma levels after maximal exercise test. At the same, there were no significant correlations between ACTN3 genotype and AnT, according with the studies that report no influence of ACTN3 genotype on level of sport performance. This study did not show any significant correlations between variant of ACTN3 genotype and stress hormone levels before and after maximal exercise test in young soccer players. Actually, there was no significant influence of variant of ACTN3 genotype on exercise induced responses of stress hormone levels in young soccer players.

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