The 6th Congress of Exercise and Sport Sciences

COMT and HTR2A Genetic Polymorphism Association with Physical Activity among Women

Lilach Gotlieb Sigal Ben-Zaken
The Academic College at Wingate, Netanya, Israel

Despite the known health benefits related to physical activity, there is a great variability in physical activity engagement during the day. Though this variability results from various factors, part of it can be attributed to genetic variability between humans. The main aim of the current study was to explore the associations between two genetic polymorphisms that are related to the neural reward system: COMT rs4680, and HTR2A rs6313 and physical activity indices among healthy women.

The neural reward system mediates behavior that results in a positive reward; for example, increasing the dose of activity to gain a positive rewarding effect. The COMT rs4680 polymorphism regulates the amount of dopamine, and the HTR2A rs6313 polymorphism regulates the amount of serotonin, thus affecting the reward engaged with physical activity.

Ninety healthy women from an upper socio-demographic background participated in the current study. They responded to a questionnaire regarding their daily life, leisure and occupational physical activity habits. In addition, a sample of buccal epithelial cells were collected for DNA extraction and genetic analysis.

Most of the women stated they practice leisure time physical activity, but there was a remarkable variation of physical activity dosage and frequencies. Significant differences in physical activity indices were found between carriers of different genotypes. COMT rs4680 A allele carriers (representing high levels of dopamine) were more active compared to non-carriers, especially if the main physical activity was running. HTR2A rs6313 TT genotype carriers (low levels of serotonin) engaged in physical activity at the lowest doses compared to other genotype carriers. A genetic profile was calculated, based on these two genetic polymorphisms. It was found that COMT rs4680 A allele and HTR2A rs6313 C allele carriers (high levels of dopamine and serotonin) were engaged in the highest doses of physical activity, and the rate of runners within this group was high compared to the other carriers.

It was concluded that there is a great variation in physical activity among women, even among those sharing a similar environmental background. Part of this variation can be explained by genetic variability related to the neural reward system. The genetic polymorphisms associated with dopamine and serotonin levels could be the reason for some of the differences in the dosage of sport activities such as running.

Lilach Gotlieb
Lilach Gotlieb
The Academic College at Wingate
Fitness trainer, running coach and spinning trainer Owner and coach of "Run with the Heart" training groups, M.Sc.- Wingate College, MBA-College of Business Administration








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