Despite progress in understanding the role of monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) in lactate (LA) accumulation and removal, it remains unclear whether MCT2 and MCT4 variants enhance LA utilization. This study assessed associations between MCT2 (rs3763980, rs995343, rs3763979) and MCT4 (rs11323780) polymorphisms and LA concentration. A total of 337 male athletes from the Czech Republic and Poland, divided into elite, sub-elite, and physically active individuals, completed two all-out Wingate tests. Before these tests, DNA was collected and analyzed for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). LA concentrations were measured before and after the tests. MCT2 rs995343 showed the broadest associations. It was significantly associated with resting LA (LArest) in the overall cohort (codominant: false discovery rate (FDR)-adjusted p = 0.04; dominant: FDR-adjusted p = 0.03) and with peak LA concentration (LAmax), accumulation (ACC), and clearance (DCC) in the physically active group (all models: FDR-adjusted p = 0.02-0.04). MCT2 rs3763980 was associated with LArest in the overall group (codominant and recessive: FDR-adjusted p = 0.04). MCT2 rs3763979 was associated with LArest (FDR-adjusted p = 0.009-0.003) and LA30' (FDR-adjusted p = 0.003-0.04) in the overall and physically active cohorts. MCT4 rs11323780 was associated with LArest in elite athletes (recessive: FDR-adjusted p = 0.03) and with ACC in the physically active group (codominant and recessive: FDR-adjusted p = 0.03). These findings indicate that MCT polymorphisms contribute to variability in LA metabolism, influencing anaerobic performance and recovery.

Department of Laboratory Diagnostics Military Institute of Aviation Medicine 01 755 Warsaw Poland

Faculty of Animal Genetics and Conservation Warsaw University of Life Sciences 02 787 Warsaw Poland

Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Charles University 162 52 Prague Czech Republic

Faculty of Physical Education Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport 80 336 Gdansk Poland

Faculty of Physical Education Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw 00 968 Warsaw Poland

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