Acute metabolic responses to a 24-h ultra-marathon race in male amateur runners

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the metabolic responses to a 24 h ultra-endurance race in male runners. Paired venous and capillary blood samples from 14 athletes (mean age 43.0 ± 10.8 years, body weight 64.3 ± 7.2 kg, VO2max 57.8 ± 6.1 ml kg−1 min−1), taken 3 h before the run, after completing the marathon distance (42.195 km), after 12 h, and at the finish of the race, were analyzed for blood morphology, acid–base balance and electrolytes, lipid profile, interleukin-6 (IL-6), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and serum enzyme activities. Mean distance covered during the race was 168.5 ± 23.1 km (range 125.2–218.5 km). Prolonged ultra-endurance exercise triggered immune and inflammatory responses, as evidenced by a twofold increase in total leukocyte count with neutrophils and monocytes as main contributors, nearly 30-fold increase in serum IL-6 and over 20-fold rise in hsCRP. A progressive exponential increase in mean creatine kinase activity up to the level 70-fold higher than the respective pre-race value, a several fold rise in serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, and a fairly stable serum γ-glutamyl transferase level, were indicative of muscle, but not of liver damage. With duration of exercise, there was a progressive development of hyperventilation-induced hypocapnic alkalosis, and a marked alteration in substrate utilization towards fat oxidation to maintain blood glucose homeostasis. The results of this study may imply that progressive decline in partial CO2 pressure (hypocapnia) that develops during prolonged exercise may contribute to increased interleukin-6 production.

Running a marathon from -45°C to +55°C in a climate chamber: a case study

“…Surprisingly, the plasma C-reactive protein concentration was immeasurably low. Therefore, recovery of plasma C-reactive protein levels possibly occurred during the recovery time after finishing the marathon, as reported by Waśkiewicz et al46 Cytokines, particularly interleukin-1 and interleukin-6, act as endogenous pyrogens in the brain. Interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 stimulate thermogenesis via synthesis of prostaglandins and corticotropin-releasing factors 47.…”

Early changes of the anemia phenomenon in male 100-km ultramarathoners

“…This is compatible with an immediate inflammatory and oxidative response. 17,18 In a study by Banzet et al, 19 IL-6 is involved in an exercise-induced increase of hepcidin gene expression, which had been implicated in training-induced iron deficiency. Furthermore, our data also show a significant increase in serum ferritin immediately after the race and 24 hours post-race.…”

Ultra‐endurance exercise induces stress and inflammation and affects circulating hematopoietic progenitor cell function

“…Several studies showed that IL‐6 levels were increased after an ultra‐endurance exercise competition (Waskiewicz et al., ; Nieman et al., ). In our study, elevated IL‐6 levels were not only due to ultra‐endurance exercise‐induced inflammation; they also reflected the contribution of affected skeletal muscles underlined by elevated CK and AST values (Pedersen & Febbraio, ; Waskiewicz et al., ). Moreover, increased HSCTNT and NT‐pro BNP values indicate that the myocardium of the athletes was also affected but not seriously damaged by the competition, which is in line with other studies (Table ) (McLachlan & Mossop, ).…”