The human genome, also known as the blueprint for humans, has been clarified, and research is progressing on genetic factors in various matters such as health risks and constitution.
This time, we focused on the relationship between genes and the world of sports, which seeks to maximize the functions of the human body.
We asked Asuka Terada, who is aiming for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as an athletics athlete, setting a new record in Japan of "12.97" for the first time in 19 years at the women's 100 meters hurdles on September 1, 2019. Mr. Miss.
We talked with Sachiko Takahashi, the representative of GeneQuest Co., Ltd., which handles gene analysis services, and the Executive Officer of Euglena Co., Ltd., about the relationship between sports and genes and eating habits.
Experience supported by genes
Shoko Takahashi (Takahashi): First and foremost, congratulations on setting a new record in Japan for the first time in 19 years *. * Mr. Terada's new record was achieved the day before the interview day.
Asuka Terada (hereinafter referred to as Terada):Thank you!
Takahashi: After giving birth, I returned to athletics for the first time in 6 years, and it's really amazing to be the first Japanese record in the 12-second range ...!
Terada: 9 months after restarting as an athletics player in December 2018. It's been about five months since I started playing in the game, and I was happy that I was able to set a new record in Japan at this time. I think I was able to prove that my choices were correct.
Asuka Terada (track and field athlete)
Begin the hurdle in earnest from the first year of high school. In 2008, he won the Japan Championships in Athletics Women's 100m hurdles for the first time in his first year as a member of society, and has won the championship for the third time in a row. In 2009, he participated in the World Championships in Athletics Berlin and won a silver medal at the Asian Championships. In 2010, he won the 5th place in the Asian Games, but retired from active duty in 2013 due to a series of injuries. After getting married and giving birth, he returned to active duty in the summer of 2016 as a mama athlete to become a pioneer of female athletes by switching to rugby sevens. In December 2018, he announced his retirement as a rugby player and his return to athletics. In August 2019, it marked 13:00, which is the same as the Japanese record for the first time in 19 years. A new record in Japan of 12 seconds 97 (+ 1.2m) was achieved in September. He participated in the World Championships in Athletics in Doha, Qatar in October for the first time in 10 years. As an athletics player again, aim for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Takahashi: This time, Mr. Terada received the "gene analysis service" Euglena My Health and the "diet constitution gene check". I heard that the results of the "diet constitution gene check" have already been obtained. How was it when you saw it?
Terada: Yes, it just arrived this morning! I found that my genotype is not very efficient in lipid metabolism and has high basal metabolism.
Originally, I was not good at taking fat. A genetic check revealed that my body was also not good at metabolizing lipids, so I was relieved at that point. I'm glad that the taste and genotype are the same.
Takahashi: I see, I'm the same type of lipid metabolism, and I'm not good at greasy foods as a taste, and I try not to take them as much as possible. By the way, I'm very curious about how Mr. Terada, an athlete, is careful about his usual eating habits.
Terada: Basically, it is important to "prepare nutrients well". Even so, depending on the season, such as on a hot summer day, you may lose your appetite and cannot eat.
At such times, you are instructed by a dietitian to eat what you can eat without overdoing it, to eat three meals exactly, to avoid getting hungry, and to protect these three.
Takahashi: Do you make your own daily meals?
Terada: Nutritionists often make it for you. Of course, I sometimes make it myself, and I also eat out. However, when eating out, I try to choose foods that have as many nutrients as possible.
Takahashi: It seems difficult to get all the nutrients when eating out, but is it something like choosing a set meal shop?
Terada:I agree. After that, change miso soup to pork soup, supplement with jelly after meals, and use supplements for insufficient nutrients.
I'm not very good at eating a lot, but as an athlete, I have to move more than the average person, so I try to supplement my nutrition with various ideas.
Knowing your constitution leads to more efficient nutrition
Takahashi: If you're like Mr. Terada, and you're always careful about your diet and you're not good at greasy foods, even if you have a high basal metabolism, you don't need to be particularly careful about dieting.
Shoko Takahashi (Euglena Co., Ltd. Executive Officer in charge of Bioinformatics Business / GeneQuest Co., Ltd. Representative Director)
Graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture, Kyoto University. In June 2013, he started GeneQuest Co., Ltd. while enrolled in the doctoral program at the Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the University of Tokyo. Completed the doctoral course in March 2015 and obtained a doctorate. We provide a genome analysis service that conveys genetic information on disease risk and constitution to individuals. April 2018 Appointed Executive Officer in charge of Bioinformatics Business, Euglena Co., Ltd.
Terada: Even so, there are various types of human genes. I learned of it for the first time.
Takahashi:I agree. Some people are not good at carbohydrate metabolism, and some are not good at protein metabolism. It's not a good idea for everyone to limit carbohydrates uniformly. There are various types.
Terada: It's the opposite of dieting, but in fact I had a hard time not gaining weight.
I retired from athletics once in 2013, but for two years from 2016, I returned to active duty in the form of switching to rugby sevens. At that time, I had to gain weight, but at first I weighed only 47 kg for a height of 168 cm.
Takahashi: It's pretty thin for a rugby player. It is said that basal metabolism was high even with a genetic constitution, but wasn't there a check mark at the highest point of the item?
Terada: That's right! Originally, I knew that it was a type that was easy to lose weight, but it became more noticeable after giving birth. If you leave it alone, it will decrease immediately.
Takahashi: Are you careful not to get hungry because if you don't eat anything on an empty stomach, your body will break down your muscles and produce energy?
Terada:That's right. In my case, if I live or train hungry, I will lose my muscles. To avoid that, I try to eat a bite before I'm hungry, and drink sports jelly drinks and drinks that contain sugar while practicing. In particular, Our "SPURT" contains various nutrients, so it is very useful.
Looking at the results this time, I realized once again that it is necessary to take proper nutrition because the basal metabolism is so high. By sharing this result with a dietitian, I would like to lead to a more effective diet.
Takahashi: Well, I hope you can use it for efficient meals and training.
The other "gene analysis service" that I received gives me information on muscle risk and constitutional tendencies, as well as information on muscles. Is it suitable for sprinting or long-distance running? There are also such items, so I think it would be interesting to see them.
Knowing the difference in genes and changing behavior will change the future
Takahashi: Terada, who has been working on "body building" as an athlete since he was young, has been active in international competitions since his teens. How do you perceive the "physical difference" with the foreign players who compete with you?
Terada: From a physical point of view, the way the skeleton and muscles are attached differs depending on the race, and it is certain that there are many foreigners among strong sprinters.
Takahashi: Did you have any thoughts about the "difference"?
Terada:I agree…. I think there are factors such as training and the environment, but I sometimes feel that there are genetic factors in such places as the same height but different leg lengths and different pelvic orientations in the first place.
Whether or not the Japanese body is blessed depends on the competition, but when it comes to sprinting, it may not be blessed. However, I think there are many things that can be challenged. For example, I have a very easy to lose weight, but by trying rugby, I learned the importance of getting bigger. After that, I started to eat and train with a strong feeling that "I can't go on the fighting stage in the first place unless I build a body that is comparable to foreign players."
Takahashi: That's a good idea. Did your thinking change before and after you returned to athletics?
Terada: When I was a teenager, I used to think that I could run even if my body was thin. Actually, I didn't do much training to build my body.
There were many things I noticed because I once left the track and field and saw various worlds.
Takahashi: Your experience in rugby, which is different from athletics, had a big impact on Terada.
Terada: By the way, how far can you understand the relationship between sports and genetic factors by genetic analysis?
Takahashi: It has become possible to find out by genetic analysis whether it is suitable for flash-type competitions, endurance-type competitions, and how easy it is to build muscle. However, at this point, the relationship between sports aptitude and genetic factors is not clearly understood.
Most of the genetic research so far has been related to "disease and genes", and "muscles and genes" and "nutrition and genes" are areas that have only begun to be studied in the last few years. In the future, as research progresses, I think there will be more things that can be utilized.
Terada: That's right! However, the time and efficiency required for athletes to build their bodies after knowing their genotypes and to proceed through trial and error without knowing anything will change significantly.
This time, it is more efficient to listen to the story about what you can understand with the "gene analysis service" and actually use the "diet constitution gene check" to find out what kind of genotype you are, and then work on competition and physical development. I felt it.
Takahashi: When it comes to genetic factors, there is a strong image of "things that cannot be changed", but that is not important, but it is important that you can understand what the "changeable" margins are. I think that "knowing the genes" means knowing your own margins and turning them into actions.
Indeed, it is true that races have different genetic backgrounds. But in sports, I don't think that the superiority or inferiority is determined only by the genetic factors of a simple physique. Not only basic athletic ability, but also various factors such as ability to memorize successful experiences in practice and judgment affect each other in a complicated manner. In the same way in sports, I heard that it is important to know how to deal with the "margins" that you can change.
Terada: It's up to you to see the difference pessimistically or positively. Instead of being pessimistic about the differences in the original physique and constitution, we will steadily carry out what we can do and change what we can change, knowing the differences.
With that in mind, it seems that we athletes can positively change their physical fitness and daily training by "knowing the genes."
～ Continue to the second part ～
* Honorific titles omitted in the text
Composition: Konomu Mizumoto / Photo: Takuya Sakawaki / Editing: Yu Oshima