Effects of menstrual cycle on sports performance

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of menstrual cycle on female athletes' performance. Forty-eight teak-wondo athletes, 76 judoka, 81 volleyball, and 36 basketball players (total 241) elite athletes participated in the study. A questionnaire constituted from 21 questions about menstrual cycle applied. A one-way analysis of variance and scheffe tests were performed to assess differences between sport branches about physical and physiological characteristics. Chi square was used to evaluate the regularity of menstrual cycle, performance, and drug taking. The mean age of teak-wondo athletes, judokas, volleyball and basketball players were 20.71 +/- 0.41, 16.91 +/- 0.27, 21.22 +/- 0.26, and 21.03 +/- 0.63 years, respectively. The menarche ages of the athletes were 13.92, 13.22, 13.75, 13.86 years, respectively. 27.8% participated in regional competitions, 46.1% participated in just the national competitions, and 26.1% participated in the international competitions. Whereas the menstrual disorder was seen in 14.5% of the athletes in normal time, during the intensive exercise this ratio was increased to 20.7%. It was determined that during the competition 11.6% of the athletes used drug, 36.9% had a painful menstruation, 17.4% did not have a painful menstruation, 45.6% sometimes had a painful menstruation, and 63.1% of the athletes said that their pain decreased during the competition. First 14 days after the menstruation began, 71% of the athletes said that they felt themselves well. 71% of the athletes felt worst just before the menstruation period, 62.2% of the athletes said that their performance was same during the menstruation, and 21.2% said that their performance got worse. Both in general and during the training the menstruation period of the athletes was found to be regular (p < .01). Most of the athletes said that they have a painful menstruation period, and during the competition their pain decreased. As a result of the questionnaire, during the training and competition the number of athletes that did not use drugs were higher than the athletes that used drug (p < .01). The number of athletes that felt good before and during the menstruation were significantly higher (p < .05, p < .01). Between the menstruation periods the athletes said that they felt better in the first 14 days than the second 14 days (p < .01). When the non-menses period and menses period were compared the athletes said that their performance did not change (p < .01). It has been concluded that the menarche age was high in the athletes. It has found that the physical performance was not affected by the menstrual period and the pain decreased during the training and competition.

Effect of music on anaerobic exercise performance

For years, mostly the effects of music on cardiorespiratory exercise performance have been studied, but a few studies have examined the effect of music on anaerobic exercise. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of listening to music and its rhythm on anaerobic exercise: on power output, heart rate and the concentration of blood lactate. 28 male subjects were required to visit the laboratory on 6 occasions, each separated by 48 hours. Firstly, each subject performed the Running-based Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST) under 3 conditions on separate days: while listening to “slow rhythm music”, “fast rhythm music” or “no music”. 48 hours after the subjects completed RAST under 3 conditions, Wingate Anaerobic Power (WAN) tests were performed under 3 music conditions. The order of the 3 conditions (slow music, fast music and no music) was selected randomly to prevent an order effect. Results showed no significant differences between 3 conditions in anaerobic power assessments, heart rate or blood lactate (p > 0.05). On the basis of these results it can be said that music cannot improve anaerobic performance. The type of music had no impact on power outputs during RAST and WAN exercise. As a conclusion, listening to music and its rhythm cannot enhance anaerobic performance and cannot change the physiological response to supramaximal exercise.

Evaluation of the 18-bp deletion/insertion variant of the VEGF gene in athletes

The skeletal muscle capillary supply mainly determines the highest exercise capacity. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the major growth factor during the angiogenesis process. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether the VEGF insertion/deletion (I/D) variant differs between athletes and sedentary controls in the Turkish population. Three hundred sixteen subjects, including 146 athletes from different branches and 170 sedentary people, voluntarily participated in this study. Genomic DNA was isolated and genotyped using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for the VEGF I/D variant. The results were evaluated statistically. In this study, the athletes and the controls showed a statistically significant difference in the genotype and allele distribution of the VEGF I/D variant. The athletes had a more prevalent D allele and D/D genotype than the controls (p = 0.008 and p = 0.034, respectively). There was a statistically significant association between the patients and the controls in terms of D/D vs. I/I + I/D genotypes (p = 0.018). There was no significant difference in VEGF I/D genotype distribution according to sports branches. Athletic performance is a complex trait influenced by genetic and environmental factors. As far as we know, this is the first study to evaluate the VEGF I/D variant in athletes in Turkey. According to our results in this study, we concluded that the VEGF I/D variant, D/D genotype, and D allele are associated with sport performance in the Turkish population. However, there is a need for studies with large samples in which environmental and emotional factors will also be taken into account.

Evaluation of a circadian rhythm gene (PER3) VNTR variant in Turkish athletes

OBJECTIVE

Circadian rhythmicity has been shown to contribute to the regulation of key physiological and cognitive processes related to performance. The period homolog 3 (PER3) is expressed in a circadian pattern in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the role of the variable tandem repeat (VNTR) variant of the PER3 gene in athletic performance in the Turkish population.

METHODS

This study included 223 subjects, which consisted of 123 athletes and 100 sedentary controls. Blood samples were drawn from all subjects. DNA was extracted from whole-blood samples. The PER3 VNTR variant was genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction method (PCR). The results of the analyses were evaluated for statistical significance.

RESULTS

The mean ages of athletes and controls were 22 ± 2.814 and 23 ± 3.561, respectively. Endurance athletes in the group were 21.1%, and sprint athletes were 78.9%. There was no statistical significance in terms of PER3 VNTR genotype distribution or allele frequency. In the recessive model, a statistically significant association was observed when the athletes were compared with the controls according to 4/4 + 4/5 versus 5/5 genotype (p = 0.020).

CONCLUSION

In this case-control study, for the first time in our country, we obtained findings suggesting that the PER3 VNTR variant may affect sports performance in the Turkish population. Results need to be replicated in different ethnic and larger samples.