Genetic Polymorphisms and Their Impact on Body Composition and Performance of Brazilians in a 105 Km Mountain Ultramarathon

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

See the attached file

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Must be Edited

Author Response

Dear reviewer, 

 

I am attaching the answers to the comments.

 

Best regards

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

I would like to thank the Editors from European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education (EJIHPE) for the opportunity to review Manuscript ID: ejihpe-2554559 entitled “Polymorphisms of the ACTN3, ACE and CK MM genes and changes in body composition as performance predictors in mountain ultramarathon”. According to the authors, the purpose of the present work under review was to determine the influence of the ACTN3 R577X, ACE I/D and CK MM A/G NcoI polymorphisms on changes in anthropometric variables and running time in 105 km male mountain runners, which may be effective to the growth of outstanding athletes. Working hypothesis were not presented alongside study aim. A total of 36 elite athletes that participated in the 105 km in-the-mountain distance event were invited to take part. The study has merit from the scientific and practical point-of-view. The authors have presented a good justification, showing the current literature and the relevance supporting the work proposed. Results are presented in details and conclusions were drawn based on that. As a consequence, I have only minor revisions required to the authors:

P1L29. “The results indicate that genetics has a significant correlation with anthropometric variables and these correlate with shorter performance times of male elite athletes in a 105 km mountain ultramarathon”. - please be more specific in the conclusion here in abstract, similar to that presented at the end of the manuscript

P2L64. “However, to date, no study has aimed to analyze the body composition of mountain ultramarathon runners and the polymorphisms of the ACTN3 R577X, ACE I/D and CK MM A/G Ncol genes.” - I wonder if the authors have made a review on that; otherwise could be pertinent to insert a citation to support this statement

“P3L99. “2.2.2. Saliva collectio”. - check English writing

“2.2.6. Agarose gel electrophoresis”; 2.2.8. Agarose gel electrophoresis; 2.2.10. Agarose gel electrophoresis” - it seems that there is an error in such section names; please correct it as well as throughout the manuscript

P5L194 - “2.3. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, and percentages) in the R software version 4.0.5. The influence of the ACTN3 R577X, ACE I/D and CK MM A/G NcoI polymorphisms and their genotypes in the anthropometric variables, for the moments (pre- and post-race), was verified by the T Test of Independent Samples. The magnitude of effect size (ES) between groups was calculated using Hedges' g with 95% confidence interval (CI) [24]. The correlation of anthropometric variables (BW, BMI, %F, FM and LM) of the ACTN3 R577X, ACE I/D and CK MM A/G NcoI polymorphisms and their genotypes with running time was evaluated using simple linear regression. For all statistical procedures, a significance level of p ≤ 0.05 was adopted.” - it is necessary to insert testing regarding a) the normality of data; b) thresholds for interpreting correlations; c) more important, adjustment/correction for the multiple tests performed (i.e. p-value would be not standardised)

In results, please ensure that data is not duplicated i.e. presented simultaneously in text and tables

P10L269. Hypothesis should be inserted at the end of introduction; here in the first paragraph of discussion it is necessary to firstly re-state study aim and then present main findings

P12L343. “This study has some limitations: despite a small sample (22 male athletes), that can be considered representative as it is formed by a group of highly specialized athletes to compete in mountain events over a distance of 105 km.” - since the sample size calculation was presented in methods, it is not a limitation. Please respond

P12L348. “However, they do not compromise the validity of the study, as relationships were demonstrated between the studied polymorphisms and body composition with running time.” - consider my comment on the statistical analysis when performing a possible change here

 

Author Response

Dear reviewer, 

 

I am attaching the answers to the comments.

 

Best regards

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments:

1.       Abstract: Line 22, please revise sentence for the clarity.

2.       Genotype AA, AG and AR are not clear with respective full names. Please define the abbreviations at respective places.

3.       Similarly…Genotype II… participants belongs to genotype II should be specified.

4.       Introduction: Lines 47-49: Please revise the sentence for better understanding.

5.       Authors mentioned Beli et al [11] in Line 47, and Line 49 “in the same study” but cited reference as 12. Please check and revise accordingly.  

6.       Lines 53-56: These lines are interesting. It would be good if author can cite suitable reference.

7.       Var-56 iables such as height and body mass index are highly inheritable, and both contribute to 57 detecting talent in different sports [13]. Is it general statement or specific to any population type? As this study is focused on gene polymorphism, this information might be interesting to audients.

8.       Methods: The sample size is bit confusing. Please check and mention clearly how many participants were there in each step?

9.       Study was conducted long time ago…any reason for not publishing yet?

10.   What was the altitude of the mountain that they performed exercise?

11.   2.2.10. Agarose gel electrophoresis  was mentioned twice 

12.   %F: Mention full form, wherever applicable.

13.   Interestingly, is there any difference in the studied genes between high altitude people and sea level people?

 

 

Moderate English corrections are necessary. 

Author Response

Dear reviewer, 

 

I am attaching the answers to the comments.

 

Best regards

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf