In 110 well-trained participants of a 1000-km running competition lasting for 20 days hematological parameters, iron metabolism, and their respective changes during the race were investigated. Thirty-nine men and 11 women were accustomed to wholesome vegetarian food (lacto-ovovegetarian), 52 men and 8 women consumed a conventional western diet. In each group 50% of the runners finished the race. Before the competition started red blood cell count, hematocrit, and hemoglobin were on average below the values observed in the normal population in all groups. Both male and female runners consuming the wholesome diet showed significantly lower ferritin values than those on a western diet. During the first days of the competition hemolysis occurred leading to increased serum concentrations of bilirubin and iron and decreased haptoglobin levels. Hb concentrations showed a constant decrease during the race. Serum ferritin concentration rose about twofold within the first days and then decreased again without reaching pre-race levels. Serum iron concentrations showed a significant decrease between days 3 and 6. Iron loss was caused by hematuria (25% of all urines tested), gastrointestinal blood loss (10% of all stool specimens tested), and by sweating (4.5 micrograms iron/dl sweat). Our results suggest that especially in female long-distance runners it may be difficult to supply sufficient quantities of iron with the diet.

In order to see the differences in the acute effects of two kinds of running on biochemical, hematological and hormonal parameters, we investigated in one 24 h race (same exterior conditions) two groups of runners (NR = nonstop runners; RR = relay runners). From each participant blood samples were taken before, 3 times during and after the race. In both groups the lipid parameters cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol declined significantly, triglycerides even to 40% of their initial value, whereas HDL-cholesterol increased significantly. Renal parameters showed similar increases in both groups except for uric acid, which rose by 73% in RR compared with only 23% increase in NR. A difference was also found in the lactate and glucose concentrations, showing a four-fold increase and a 34% increase at 4 h respectively in RR, whereas the NR remained constant. Changes in the hematological parameters were similar in both groups. Cortisol and prolactin showed similar alterations during the race but LH and testosterone declined to approximately half of their initial concentration (p greater than 0.05) in NR after 4 to 8 h, in contrast to RR, where the concentration of LH or testosterone remained constant or changed only moderately but insignificantly during the race. Our investigation indicates that in ultra-long-distance running and intense short-term exercise performed under the same exterior conditions, many parameters show similar changes but great differences can be found as well if certain hormones, glucose metabolism and renal parameters are considered.

During an ultra-long-distance race (1000 km in 20 days) the influence of running was examined on the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (AP), gamma-glutamyl-transferase (GGT), and glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) with regard to their release from the liver cells or their induction. Furthermore the liver synthetic capacity was assayed by measuring the enzyme activity of cholinesterase and the concentration of serum albumin during the race. Of the 110 participants, 55 finished the race and only the results of these runners were used in our study. AP increased continuously from day 0 (mean = 102 U/L) to day 19 (mean = 120 U/L). A fivefold increase of AST and a twentyfold increase of CK up to day 3 was followed by a significant decrease towards the end of the race. ALT rose as well up to day 6 from a mean value of 8 U/L to 24 U/L but remained at this level. Surprising was the individual increase of the enzymes GLDH (up to twentyfold) and GGT (up to sixfold) in more than half of the finishers on various days indicating liver cell injuries. The activity of CHE and the concentration of serum albumin decreased during the race, both were significantly correlated.

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