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Int J Sports Med 2020; 41(05): 339-344
DOI: 10.1055/a-1088-5279
Genetics & Molecular Biology
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

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

Caio Victor Sousa
1   Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil
2   Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami FL, USA
,
Samuel Silva Aguiar
1   Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil
3   Physical Education Department, University Center UDF, Brasília, Brazil
,
Lysleine Alves Deus
1   Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil
,
Lucas Pinheiro Barbosa
1   Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil
,
Patrick Anderson dos Santos
1   Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil
,
Rodrigo Vanerson Passos Neves
1   Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil
,
Larissa Alves Maciel
1   Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil
,
Milton Rocha Moraes
1   Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil
,
Sérgio Rodrigues Moreira
4   Physical Education, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF) Brazil, Petrolina, Brazil
,
Carmen Sílvia Grubert Campbell
1   Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil
,
Rosangela Vieira Andrade
5   Graduate Program in Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil
,
Thiago dos Santos Rosa
1   Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil
,
Herbert Gustavo Simoes 
1   Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia - UCB, Brasília, Brazil
› Author Affiliations Funding: This study was funded by Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Distrito Federal (FAP/DF) with grants from: Demanda espontânea (Edital 04/2017). This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance code 001.
Further Information

Publication History



accepted 16 December 2019

Publication Date:
11 February 2020 (online)

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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
 

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