Athletes: Nutritional Supplementation and its effect on Genetic Expression

Exercise is a challenge for our body’s homeostasis. As such, athletic performance and training require an elevated level of cellular responsiveness and adaptation. Considering this, micronutrients are essential regulators of energy production, repair, and muscle upkeep. Nutritional supplementation in athletes may potentiate tissue repair, support the immune system, and modulate oxidative stress and inflammation. These benefits mentioned above can support athletic performance if applied correctly while considering cellular and genetic responses to exercise.

Genetic expression and recovery

IL6 and IL6R

One crucial part of an exercise and athletic performance is recovery. The genetic expression of specific SNPs and their association with exercise recovery has been studied elsewhere. Gene codes for pro-inflammatory cytokines and their receptor have a tight association with an exercise-induced mechanical load. Also, they are both crucial markers for inflammation and elevated CRP levels. In the specific case of IL6, the C allele has a stronger association with elevated CRP. On the other hand, a C allele in the IL6R gene would result in muscular fatigue and prolonged recovery after exercise.

CRP

 C- reactive protein is one of the most common inflammatory markers; however, it is also a key player in activating the innate immune system. CRP is the gene encoding for this protein. When a patient has the G allele, it may be linked to higher CRP levels and inflammation. In the athletic context, this allele reflects in the requisition of longer recovery times. 

TNFA

An athlete with an A allele in this encoding gene can have an acute inflammatory reaction after an intense training session. TNFA is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine with a tight correlation with elevated CRP levels after exercise. 

Oxidative stress

Consistent training is linked to inducing oxidative stress, tis is due to a temporary redox balance towards a more oxidized state. Continuous skeletal muscle cell activation requires increased oxygen consumption, as well as elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). This reaction takes a toll on the antioxidant defenses, resulting in oxidative damage of proteins and DNA. Nevertheless, our body can balance this reaction by upregulating the antioxidant enzymatic systems, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT).

SOD2

The duration, mode, and intensity of exercise can vary greatly and affect athletes differently. Nutritional status, age, gender, genetics, and fitness levels interact to determine an individual’s athletic performance and endurance. SOD2 is the encoding gene for the SOD antioxidant enzyme. In the athletic complex, SOD is crucial to minimize muscular fatigue and modulates mitochondrial oxidative stress. The literature shows that an individual with a C allele is prone to have higher levels of oxidative stress after intense exercise.

eNOS

This gene encodes Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS), an enzyme family catalyzing Nitric Oxide (NO) production. As a cellular signaling molecule, NO modulates vascular tone, insulin secretion, and peristalsis. The critical role of NO in athletic performance is its regulatory properties on blood vessel constriction and resistance. Genetic research shows that those athletes with a T allele have an increased concentration of free radicals and oxidative stress.

dnaSport

Exploding your potential and identifying weaknesses is the main purpose of DNA testing. Indeed, the effectiveness of training and sporting performance is affected by key genetic areas. The DNA profile technology helps to improve the training strategy, nutritional supplementation, and recovery techniques that will support the athletic performance of our patient.

Nutritional Supplementation and Genetic Expression

Micronutrients such as Vitamin C and D and active nutritional compounds like glutathione, thiols, metallothioneins, and lipoid acid work with the enzymatic systems CAT, SOD, and GPX. As the training load increases oxidative stress in a sports context, nutritional supplementation becomes essential for the athlete’s recovery. Knowing the athlete’s genotype, specific training, and baseline oxidative stress markers has become a noticeable topic in the research literature. In addition, this information has brought light to the benefits of proper nutritional supplementation in those athletes with genotypes associated with higher oxidative stress levels.

In 2020, an investigation was performed to observe the changes in the genetic expression of elite handball players before and after an 8-week multivitamin/ mineral supplementation. This study compared 13 elite handball players to 13 sedentary controls. Furthermore, their genetic profile was measured at baseline, after an 8-week supplementation and 8-weeks after the absence of supplementation. The results show that elite players had upregulation of those genes encoding for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant enzymes after an 8-week supplementation. However, at baseline, these players showed increased levels of inflammatory genes such as IL6 and IL6-R.

Another study performed in Waterpolo players measured the oxidative stress effects on athletes before and after acute intense exercise. This study reported the genotypes of 28 players (SOD2 A16V, CAT −844 G>A, and GPx-1 rs1800668 C>T). This study shows a significant decrease in antioxidant enzyme activity, blood antioxidant potential, and a thiol depletion after exercise. Also, those players with CAT −844 GA or GPx1 CT genotype had increased derivates of reactive oxygen metabolites and elevated levels of GPx and CAT posterior to exercise.

The depleted antioxidant enzymes need to recover with the help of vitamins, active nutritional compounds, and minerals. Indeed, nutritional supplementation is essential for an athlete’s recovery. The information provided by DNA testing is a magnificent tool to recognize the different genotypes interfering with the athletic endurance of our patients. Carrying one of these alleles does not mean poor performance. It means that the athlete may need a tailored recovery program, with proper nutritional supplementation, to improve results and promote wellbeing. – Ana Paola Rodríguez Arciniega, MS

References:

Vecchio, Mercurio et al. “The Oxidative Stress Response in Elite Water Polo Players: Effects of Genetic Background.” BioMed research international vol. 2017 (2017): 7019694. doi:10.1155/2017/7019694

Molina-López, Jorge et al. “Effect of 8-week of dietary micronutrient supplementation on gene expression in elite handball athletes.” PloS one vol. 15,5 e0232237. 1 May. 2020, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0232237

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Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, CTG*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

phone: 915-850-0900

Licensed in Texas & New Mexico