Celal Bulgay
57204125387
Publications - 8
Genetic Factors of Elite Wrestling Status: A Multi-Ethnic Comparative Study
Attila Szabo
Celal Bulgay
Ayumu Kozuma
Hirofumi Zempo
Mika Saito
Minoru Deguchi
Hiroki Homma
Shingo Matsumoto
Hasan H. Kazan
Ildus I. Ahmetov
Mehmet A. Ergun
Ryutaro Matsumoto
Anıl Kasakolu
Türker Bıyıklı
Giyasettin Baydaş
Ekaterina A. Semenova
Andrey K. Larin
Nikolay A. Kulemin
Edward V. Generozov
Takanobu Okamoto
Koichi Nakazato
Naoki Kikuchi
Seyrani Koncagul
Publication Name: Genes
Publication Date: 2025-08-01
Volume: 16
Issue: 8
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Background: In recent years, comprehensive analyses using a genome-wide association study (GWAS) have been conducted to identify genetic factors related to athletic performance. In this study, we investigated the association between genetic variants and elite wrestling status across multiple ethnic groups using a genome-wide genotyping approach. Methods: This study included 168 elite wrestlers (64 Japanese, 67 Turkish, and 36 Russian), all of whom had competed in international tournaments, including the Olympic Games. Control groups consisted of 306 Japanese, 137 Turkish, and 173 Russian individuals without elite athletic backgrounds. We performed a GWAS comparing allele frequencies of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between elite wrestlers and controls in each ethnic cohort. Cross-population analysis comprised (1) identifying SNPs with nominal significance (p < 0.05) in all three groups, then (2) meta-analyzing overlapped SNPs to assess effect consistency and combined significance. Finally, we investigated whether the most significant SNPs were associated with gene expression in skeletal muscle in 23 physically active men. Results: The GWAS identified 328,388 (Japanese), 23,932 (Turkish), and 30,385 (Russian) SNPs reaching nominal significance. Meta-analysis revealed that the ATP2A3 rs6502758 and UNC5C rs265061 polymorphisms were associated (p < 0.0001) with elite wrestling status across all three populations. Both variants are located in intronic regions and influence the expression of their respective genes in skeletal muscle. Conclusions: This is the first study to investigate gene polymorphisms associated with elite wrestling status in a multi-ethnic cohort. ATP2A3 rs6502758 and UNC5C rs265061 polymorphisms may represent important genetic factors associated with achieving an elite status in wrestling, irrespective of ethnicity.
Open Access: Yes
Positive and Negative Expectations Associated with Coffee and Energy Drinks: Implications for Placebo–Nocebo Research in Sports
Publication Name: Nutrients
Publication Date: 2025-02-01
Volume: 17
Issue: 4
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Background: Nutritional expectations have been shown to influence exercise performance via placebo and nocebo effects. The present study aimed to evaluate performance-enhancement expectations for coffee and energy drinks using the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale. Methods: A total of 402 participants (48.5% male) with an average exercise history of 4.53 years, engaging in average physical activity 3.91 times per week, were included in the study. Data collection was conducted through the Qualtrics platform. Results: Participants exhibited significantly higher positive expectations for coffee compared to energy drinks (p = 0.002), whereas negative expectations were more pronounced for energy drinks than for coffee (p < 0.001). Males and individuals engaging in anaerobic exercise expressed more positive expectations for energy drinks than females and those participating in aerobic or mixed exercise regimens. Additionally, high-frequency exercisers (≥4 sessions per week) reported greater positive expectations for both beverages and fewer negative expectations for coffee than low-frequency exercisers (≤3 sessions per week). Correlational analyses revealed weak but significant associations between expectations and variables such as exercise history, frequency, intensity, and age. Conclusions: The findings suggest that coffee is perceived as a more effective performance enhancer and exhibits greater placebo-inducing potential than energy drinks, which may elicit stronger nocebo effects. These group-specific perceptions should be considered by trainers, coaches, and researchers when addressing placebo–nocebo mechanisms in the context of sports and exercise.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3390/nu17040628
Genome-Wide Association Study of Exercise Addiction Among Elite Wrestlers
Publication Name: Brain Sciences
Publication Date: 2025-02-01
Volume: 15
Issue: 2
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Background: Exercise addiction, marked by an inability to control exercise and associated with distress that clinically impairs daily activities, is a significant but underrecognized issue in physical activity and health. While its physiological, psychological, and behavioral aspects have been studied, the genetic basis of exercise addiction remains poorly understood, requiring further investigation. The present study conducted a genome-wide association study of exercise addiction among elite Turkish wrestlers. Methods: The sample comprised 67 male wrestlers (34 freestyle wrestlers and 33 Greco-Roman wrestlers). Exercise addiction was assessed using the Exercise Addiction Scale. Whole-genome genotyping was performed using DNA microarray. Results: Using a genome-wide approach (p < 1.0 × 10−⁵), we identified six suggestively significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with exercise addiction status. Of these, the high-addiction alleles of five SNPs (PRDM10 rs74345126, near PTPRU rs72652685, HADHB rs6745226, XIRP2 rs17614860, and near GAREM2 rs1025542) have previously been associated with an increased risk of mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression or higher levels of physical activity. We also examined potential associations between the genetic markers previously linked to addiction-related traits such as obsessive–compulsive disorder and cigarette smoking, and personality traits linked to negative emotions including neuroticism. Using this candidate gene approach (p < 0.05), we identified three additional SNPs associated with exercise addiction in the same direction of association (DEFB135 rs4841662, BCL11A rs7599488, and CSRNP3 rs1551336). Conclusions: The present study provides preliminary evidence for the genetic basis of exercise addiction, highlighting specific SNPs that may play a role in the development of this condition among elite wrestlers.
Open Access: Yes
Body Mass and Aerobic Capacity are Robust Predictors of the 2000m Ergometer Rowing Performance: A Laboratory Study
Publication Name: International Journal of Kinesiology and Sports Science
Publication Date: 2025-01-01
Volume: 13
Issue: 2
Page Range: 78-85
Description:
Purpose: Predicting performance in sports competitions is a popular topic in research. However, only a few studies exist in rowing sports, which suggest that some anthropometric and performance indices might predict performance in various situations. Methods: This work expands past research by examining the effects of five anthropometric measures, such as body mass index (BMI), height, weight, fat, and muscle, and three performance indicators, such as aerobic capacity, maximum speed, and force, while also considering the training history of 38 elite rowers (Mag e = 16.89 ± 1.85, range 14.7 to 22.6 years, 61% males) participating in a national championship. Results: Apart from BMI, all measures correlated statistically significantly with the 2000m rowing time. A bootstrapped forward multiple regression yielded the best model with only two predictors (R2 =.995), aerobic capacity and body mass, accounting for 99.5% variance in the 2000m rowing time. Conclusions: While the results support previous findings, such robust prediction has not been reported in the literature. We conjecture that the differences from other past works rest with the high-pressure 2000m performance preceding a national championship. If these findings could be replicated, their practical implication is substantial in preparatory training for rowing contests.
Open Access: Yes
Association between hand grip strength and exercise addiction among high-level athletes: differences by sport category and sex in elite athletes
Publication Name: Frontiers in Psychology
Publication Date: 2025-01-01
Volume: 16
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Introduction: Handgrip strength (HGS) is a key indicator of upper-body strength and overall physical fitness. While its links to health and sports performance have been widely studied, its relationship with the risk of exercise addiction (REA) remains unclear. Thus, the present study examines the relationship between HGS and REA across various sports disciplines, sexes, and national contexts, aiming to deepen our understanding of their intricate interplay. Methods: Using a cross-sectional research design, data were collected from 1,211 high-level athletes from Türkiye (n = 656) and Hungary (n = 555), spanning a wide range of competitive sports. The measures involved demographic questions, the Exercise Addiction Inventory to assess REA, and HGS assessments. Results: We found significant negative correlations between HGS and REA among Turkish female athletes competing in racquet and water sports (p < 0.05). In contrast, significant positive correlations emerged in team sports played with hands and target-based sports (p < 0.05). Statistically significant HGS-REA correlations were also observed among Turkish male athletes participating in gymnastics and esthetic sports (p < 0.05). Among Hungarian athletes, a significant HGS-REA correlation was found in male racquet sports athletes and female athletes engaged in combat sports (p < 0.05). Regardless of sports discipline, a statistically significant positive correlation was observed exclusively among Turkish female athletes (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The present study reveals that the correlations between HGS and the risk of REA may vary depending on country, sex, and type of sport. The findings indicate that HGS may be either positively or negatively associated with REA in specific sports disciplines.
Open Access: Yes
Exercise Addiction: a Thematic Analysis of Self-Reported Cases for Clinical Insight and Prevention
Publication Name: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
Publication Date: 2025-01-01
Volume: Unknown
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Exercise addiction (EA) is a potentially harmful behavioral disorder that remains clinically undefined, with research often relying on symptom-based models that overlook subjective experiences. This study reviewed 63 self-reported EA cases using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis to identify recurring experiential patterns that may go beyond the component model of addictions (CMA). Nine themes emerged: loss of control, diverse exercise engagement, identity fusion, emotional coping, social disconnection, health denial, gender disparity, compulsive quantification, and severe physical consequences. The findings provide ecologically valid insights into the psychological and social dynamics of EA. Some themes partially overlapped with the CMA, but also with obsessive passion and self-determination, highlighting the limitations of current research frameworks and the need for more inductive, person-centered approaches. The results have practical implications for prevention, early detection, and intervention strategies and contribute to the ongoing effort to establish clinical diagnosis criteria for EA.
Open Access: Yes
COVID-19 Alters Respiratory Function Associations in High-Level Athletes
Publication Name: Medicina Lithuania
Publication Date: 2025-09-01
Volume: 61
Issue: 9
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Background and Objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected multiple physiological systems, including respiratory function, which is critical for athletic performance. Although alterations in pulmonary dynamics have been observed in high-level athletes recovering from COVID-19, the effects on respiratory function remain unclear. In this context, the present study aimed to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the interrelationships among respiratory function parameters in high-level athletes. Materials and Methods: Sixty-eight high-level athletes participated in the present study, including 34 with a history of COVID-19 and 34 controls without prior infection. Respiratory function and respiratory muscle strength were assessed using a digital spirometer (Pony FX, Cosmed, Italy). Key variables included Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF), Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV), Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1 ), and Maximum Inspiratory/Expiratory Pressure (MIP/MEP). Results: High-level athletes with prior COVID-19 infection exhibited significant differences in the correlations (p < 0.05) between FVC and PEF, FVC and MVV, FEV1 and FEV1 /FVC, and MIP and MVV compared to controls. Conclusions: These findings suggest that COVID-19 can disrupt the interrelationships among respiratory function parameters in high-level athletes, highlighting the need for further longitudinal investigations.
Open Access: Yes
Quantifying the relationship between physical performance and mental wellbeing in older adults: a field study
Publication Name: Frontiers in Aging
Publication Date: 2025-01-01
Volume: 6
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Introduction: Although the relationship between functionality, as reflected in physical performance (PHP), and mental health in older adults has been researched, its strength remains unclear. Methods: This field study aimed to determine the strength of this relationship in adults aged 60 and above using seven PHP indices and six psychological measures. We individually tested 114 older adults. Objective measures included six PHP indices consisting of the Senior Test and handgrip strength. Subjective measures included resilience, wellbeing, happiness, perceived stress, hopelessness, and life satisfaction. Results: Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed two latent constructs: PHP and mental wellbeing (MWB): robust fit (MLR): X2 (75) = 136.28, p < 0.001; CFI = 0.967; TLI = 0.960; RMSEA = 0.066 (90% CI [0.000, 0.128]); SRMR = 0.088. The latent partial correlation between PHP and MWB (adjusted for Age) was φ = 0.46, indicating ∼21% shared variance. The correlation between the two latent factors was moderate (r = 0.46), suggesting that other unassessed factors might account for the relationship. Discussion: Based on objective PHP and subjective MWB measures, these results suggest a modest connection, with the two latent constructs sharing ∼1/5 of their variances. Consequently, further research is needed to identify other factors affecting the studied relationship in older adults. These cross-sectional findings, suggesting a moderate association, should be interpreted with caution. Still, they support recommending physical activity as one component of broader, multi-domain strategies to support the wellbeing of older adults.
Open Access: Yes
