Genomic Predictors of Brisk Walking Are Associated with Elite Sprinter Status.

Brisk walkers are physically more active, taller, have reduced body fat and greater physical fitness and muscle strength. The aim of our study was to determine whether genetic variants associated with increased walking pace were overrepresented in elite sprinters compared to controls. A total of 70 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously identified in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of self-reported walking pace in 450,967 European individuals were explored in relation to sprinter status. Genotyping of 137 Russian elite sprinters and 126 controls was performed using microarray technology. Favorable (i.e., high-speed-walking) alleles of 15 SNPs (<i>FHL2</i> rs55680124 C, <i>SLC39A8</i> rs13107325 C, <i>E2F3</i> rs4134943 T, <i>ZNF568</i> rs1667369 A, <i>GDF5</i> rs143384 G, <i>PPARG</i> rs2920503 T, <i>AUTS2</i> rs10452738 A, <i>IGSF3</i> rs699785 A, <i>CCT3</i> rs11548200 T, <i>CRTAC1</i> rs2439823 A, <i>ADAM15</i> rs11264302 G, <i>C6orf106</i> rs205262 A, <i>AKAP6</i> rs12883788 C, <i>CRTC1</i> rs11881338 A, <i>NRXN3</i> rs8011870 G) were identified as having positive associations with sprinter status (<i>p</i> &amp;lt; 0.05), of which <i>IGSF3</i> rs699785 survived correction for multiple testing (<i>p</i> = 0.00004) and was linked (<i>p</i> = 0.042) with increased proportions of fast-twitch muscle fibers of m. vastus lateralis in physically active men (<i>n</i> = 67). Polygenic analysis revealed that individuals with ≥18 favorable alleles of the 15 SNPs have an increased odds ratio of being an elite sprinter when compared to those with ≤17 alleles (OR: 7.89; <i>p</i> &amp;lt; 0.0001). Using UK Biobank data, we also established the association of 14 favorable alleles with low BMI and fat percentage, 8 alleles with increased handgrip strength, and 7 alleles with increased height and fat-free mass. In conclusion, we have identified 15 new genetic markers associated with sprinter status.