Exploratory analysis of the lipidome of U-22 soccer players at different competitive levels and with distinct aerobic capacities

Author(s)

João Pedro da Cruz

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Limeira, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Ciências Aplicadas
• Defense date: 2022-12-16

Examining board members

Claudio Alexandre Gobatto; Claudia Regina Cavaglieri; Sergio Augusto Cunha; Luiz Fernando Martins Kruel; Gustavo Gomes de Araujo

• Advisor: Claudio Alexandre Gobatto

Abstract

The aim of this Doctoral Thesis was to investigate physiological differences in relation to levels of physical capacity as well as the competitive level of male U22 soccer players. For this, the thesis was divided into two studies, the first aimed to use untargeted lipidomics to investigate metabolic differences between U22 male soccer players with higher and lower aerobic capacity. In addition, we seek to identify associations between the fasting serum metabolic profile with critical velocity (VCrit). The second study used classical physical assessments and a lipidomic approach to compare the anthropometric, physical fitness level, and serum fasting metabolic profile among U22 soccer players from different competitive levels. In the experimental design, 36 soccer players U22 were evaluated. Study 1: Low aerobic fitness group with 21 athletes (age= 19 ± 1 years) and high aerobic fitness group with 15 athletes (age= 19 ± 2 years). Study 2: Non-elite team with 20 athletes (age = 20 ± 2 years) and elite team with 16 athletes (age = 18 ± 1 year). For both studies, earlobe blood samples were collected and the metabolites were extracted after overnight fasting (12h). Untargeted lipidomics through LC-MS analysis and anthropometric evaluation was performed. Critical velocity was applied to determine aerobic (VCrit) and anaerobic (ARC) capacity. In study 1, the low and high aerobic fitness groups presented different metabolic profiles based on heatmap and volcano plot analysis. The metabolites PC(32:3), PE(18:1(9Z)/16:1(9Z)), 1-(2-methoxy-19Z-hexacosenyl) sn-glycero-3-phosphoserine, PE(22: 2(13Z,16Z)/18:2(9Z,12Z)), and PS(48:0) were related to the metabolism of glycerophospholipids (glycerophosphoserines, glycerophosphoethanolamines, glycerophosphocholines, and glycerophosphoglycerols) and can cautiously be considered as aerobic capacity markers in soccer players. In study 2, Height (t=?0.95;p=0.348), body mass index (t=0.16;p=0.870), body mass (t=?0.45;p=0.654), lean body mass (t=?0.74;p=0.462), body fat (t=0.53;p=0.597), body fat percentage (t=1.28;p=0.207), hematocrit (t=?0.58;p=0.563), VCrit (t=1.98;p=0.06), and ARC (t=?1.63;p=0.110) showed no significant differences between the elite and non-elite teams. The multivariate PLS-DA model showed a separation between the elite and non-elite teams. That is, the classic physical assessments were not able to differentiate the teams inserted in different competitive levels. However, the lipidomics approach was able to differentiate the fasting metabolic profile between elite and non-elite teams. Additionally, metabolites with a high relative abundance in the elite group were related with a better level of aerobic power, greater efficiency in the recovery process, and improvement of mood, immunity, decision making, and accuracy, in addition to acting in mitochondrial preservation, and electron transport chain maintenance (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/02286-5 - Metabolomic and proteomic analysis in soccer players: relationships with aerobic and anaerobic capacities
• Grantee: João Pedro da Cruz
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)