Impact of different running distances on muscle and lymphocyte DNA damage in amateur marathon runners

Abstract

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of different marathon running distances (10 km, 21 km, and 42.195 km) on muscle and lymphocyte DNA damage in amateur marathon runners. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty male amateur runners were randomly assigned to 10 km, 21 km, and 42 km groups, with 10 subjects in each group. Blood samples were collected before and after the races and on the 3rd day of recovery to examine levels of muscle damage (creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase) and lymphocyte DNA damage (DNA in the tail, tail length, and tail moment). [Results] Serum creatine kinase, serum lactate dehydrogenase, and tail moment were significantly higher after the races compared with before the races in all groups. In addition, the 42 km group showed significantly higher levels of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and tail moment than the 10 km and 21 km groups after the races. [Conclusion] Strenuous endurance exercise can cause muscle and lymphocyte DNA damage, and the extent of such damage can increase as running distance increases.

DNA Damage Following Acute Aerobic Exercise: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

“…Numerous studies included heterogeneous groups of participants: trained or untrained, young or old, sport-specific volunteers (such as swimmers, rowers, and runners), physically active and sedentary participants, and a few studies compared men and women. Furthermore, three studies [38][39][40] used more than one parameter to quantify DNA damage. Finally, some studies measured DNA damage at only one time-point (TP), while other studies included multiple post-exercise measures of DNA damage following exercise.…”

“…Three studies included groups of untrained and trained subjects [36,39,54]; one study [55] used rowers and physical education students, while another [56] used swimmers and runners. Finally, two studies used volunteers participating in multiple running distances [40,49].…”

Effects of Long-Term Aerobic Exercise on the Antioxidant System and Lymphocyte Dna Damage by Triathlon Distance

“…Ryu et al found that CK and LDH concentrations were increased with increasing marathon distance (10, 20, and 42.2 km). 18 Our findings that CK and LDH concentrations did not recover to at-rest levels by 6 days of recovery after a triathlon race indicates that recovery is delayed following longer exercise. Thus, these athletes require more than 6 days for recovery after a triathlon race.…”

“…17 Study results on marathon, which involves longdistance high-intensity aerobic exercise similar to triathlon, showed that exercise distance and time were proportional to oxidative stress and DNA damage from exercise. 18 However, studies on the effects of oxidative stress on DNA damage and those of the event and distance in triathlon on the antioxidant system are still lacking.…”

“…These patterns of muscle damage indicators agree with those of previous studies examining high-intensity aerobic exercise. 18,20 Areces et al reported that muscle damage indicators were higher immediately after a half-Ironman race (808 U/L) than that at rest (173 U/L) in 10 male triathletes. 40 In addition, Pinho et al suggested that CK concentration was increased after an Ironman course.…”