Comparison of Changes in Biochemical Markers for Skeletal Muscles, Hepatic Metabolism, and Renal Function after Three Types of Long-distance Running

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to compare changes in biochemical markers for the skeletal muscles, hepatic metabolism, and renal function based on extreme long-distance running.Among healthy amateur endurance athletes who participated in a marathon, 100 km-, or 308 km ultramarathon, 15 athletes with similar physical and demographic characteristics were chosen to be the subjects in this study, upon completion of each course. The subjects’ blood was collected before and after the course to identify biochemical markers for the skeletal muscles, hepatic metabolism, and renal function.After all of the courses, creatinine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine were found to be significantly increased compared with values obtained before the race (P <0.05 for each marker). CK, LDH, AST, and LDH were significantly higher after completion of the 100 km race than the marathon (P <0.05) and were significantly higher after the 308 km race than the marathon or 100 km race (P <0.05). Total protein was significantly lower after the 308 km race than the marathon or 100 km race (P <0.05). Albumin significantly increased after the marathon but significantly decreased after the 308 km course (P <0.05). Total and direct bilirubin were significantly increased after the 100 km and 308 km races (P <0.05), and were significantly higher after the 308 km than the marathon or 100 km course (P <0.05). BUN was significantly higher after the 100 km race than the marathon (P <0.05) and was significantly lower after the 308 km than the 100 km race (P <0.05). Creatinine was significantly higher after the marathon and 100 km than the 308 km race (P <0.05). Uric acid significantly increased after the marathon and 100 km race (P <0.05); it was significantly higher after completing the marathon and 100 km than the 308 km race (P <0.05).Muscular damage, decline in hepatic function, and hemolysis in the blood were higher after running a 308 km race, which is low-intensity running compared with a marathon, and a temporary decline in renal function was higher after completing a 100 km race, which is medium-to-high intensity.

Runners' metabolomic changes following marathon

“…The abscissa represents different experimental groups, the ordinate represents the comparison of the metabolites among different groups, and the color blocks at different positions represent the relative expression of the corresponding metabolites. b Bubble plot displays the increasing impact of the enrichment analysis of metabolic pathways, with key bubbles reflecting that the metabolic pathways were significantly altered by marathon In the aspect of evaluating exercise fatigue, Shin demonstrated that the serum urea, CK and other biochemical indicators of the athletes who completed marathon match, were all significantly elevated [21]. Moreover, the athletes subjectively felt fatigue.…”

The effect of vitamin D supplementation on serum total 25(OH) levels and biochemical markers of skeletal muscles in runners

“…Strenuous exercise with eccentric muscle contractions may be attributed to muscle fatigue due to muscle membrane damage along with increase intermuscular enzymes and biomarkers [2,9,31,32,47]. In our study, we concluded that 25(OH)D production after vitamin D supplementation has a significant effect on selected biomarkers of skeletal muscle damage and post-exercise proinflammatory cytokine levels.…”

“…In previous studies on the assessment of muscle dysfunction, the conventional biomarkers (e.g., Tn, CK, myoglobin, LDH) have been analyzed [30,31]. These markers had different release times and different times of reaching maximal concentrations [9,11,32]. It has been hypothesized that exercise-induced lower muscle biomarker secretion may depend on increased serum 25(OH)D levels and these vitamin levels might be used for early detection of greater muscle resistance to eccentric-induced muscle fatigue [31].…”

Effect of Schisandra chinensis Extract Supplementation on Quadriceps Muscle Strength and Fatigue in Adult Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

“…CK catalyzes ATP dependent phosphorylation of creatine, and LDH is involved in the metabolism of pyruvate in skeletal muscle [49,50]. CK and LDH are reported to serve as markers of acute or chronic muscular damage and cell necrosis [51,52]. Additionally, activation of CK and LDH may increase symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and a decline in muscular strength during high-intensity, long-distance exercise due to damaged skeletal muscles [51,52].…”

“…CK and LDH are reported to serve as markers of acute or chronic muscular damage and cell necrosis [51,52]. Additionally, activation of CK and LDH may increase symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and a decline in muscular strength during high-intensity, long-distance exercise due to damaged skeletal muscles [51,52]. Recently, in an animal study, SC was shown to effectively delay CK and LDH increases after acute exercise [13], but another animal study did not shown in this effect [53].…”