Faster and Healthier: Relationship between Telomere and Performance
                    in Master Athletes

Caio Victor Sousa; Samuel Silva Aguiar; Lysleine Alves Deus; Lucas Pinheiro Barbosa; Patrick Anderson dos Santos; Rodrigo Vanerson Passos Neves; Larissa Alves Maciel; Milton Rocha Moraes; Sérgio Rodrigues Moreira; Carmen Sílvia Grubert Campbell; Rosangela Vieira Andrade; Thiago dos Santos Rosa; Herbert Gustavo Simoes

doi:10.1055/a-1088-5279

International Journal of Sports Medicine, Table of Contents

Int J Sports Med 2020; 41(05): 339-344
DOI: 10.1055/a-1088-5279

Genetics & Molecular Biology

Faster and Healthier: Relationship between Telomere and Performance in Master Athletes

Authors

Caio Victor Sousa

¹Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil

²Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami FL, USA
Samuel Silva Aguiar

¹Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil

³Physical Education Department, University Center UDF, Brasília, Brazil
Lysleine Alves Deus

¹Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil
Lucas Pinheiro Barbosa

¹Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil
Patrick Anderson dos Santos

¹Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil
Rodrigo Vanerson Passos Neves

¹Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil
Larissa Alves Maciel

¹Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil
Milton Rocha Moraes

¹Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil
Sérgio Rodrigues Moreira

⁴Physical Education, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF) Brazil, Petrolina, Brazil
Carmen Sílvia Grubert Campbell

¹Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil
Rosangela Vieira Andrade

⁵Graduate Program in Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil
Thiago dos Santos Rosa

¹Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil
Herbert Gustavo Simoes

¹Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil

Abstract

Aging is associated with increased oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and decreased telomere length (TL). However, the lifestyle of master athletes can lead to a reduced risk of these conditions, and thus attenuates aging and performance deterioration. We aimed to analyze the relationships between TL and relative performance (RP), and their relation to adiposity, oxidative stress, and inflammation in endurance (END) and sprint/power (SPW) master athletes (MAs). Twenty-two world-class MAs visited the laboratory for anamnesis, anthropometrics, and blood sampling. Inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters were assessed using commercial kits. Relative TL was determined in leukocytes through qPCR analyses. A positive association was observed between RP and TL in both groups (SPW: r=0.641; END: r=0.685) and the whole sample (r=0.594). The IL6/IL10 ratio presented an inverse correlation with RP in the whole sample (r=–0.580). Body mass index also demonstrated a negative correlation with TL for the END group (r=–0.690) and the whole sample analysis (r=–0.455). Moreover, the IL6/IL10 ratio was negatively associated with strength/power training hours (r=–0.464), whereas the CAT/TBARS ratio was negatively associated with aerobic training hours (r=–0.482). In conclusion, TL of MAs was associated with RP regardless of the training model (endurance or sprint/power), and inflammation and adiposity were associated with shorter telomeres.

Key words

aging - running - oxidative stress - inflammation - track and field

Full Text

References

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