Untargeted Metabolomics Profiling of an 80.5 km Simulated Treadmill Ultramarathon

Abstract

Metabolomic profiling of nine trained ultramarathon runners completing an 80.5 km self-paced treadmill-based time trial was carried out. Plasma samples were obtained from venous whole blood, collected at rest and on completion of the distance (post-80.5 km). The samples were analyzed by using high-resolution mass spectrometry in combination with both hydrophilic interaction (HILIC) and reversed phase (RP) chromatography. The extracted putatively identified features were modeled using Simca P 14.1 software (Umetrics, Umea, Sweden). A large number of amino acids decreased post-80.5 km and fatty acid metabolism was affected with an increase in the formation of medium-chain unsaturated and partially oxidized fatty acids and conjugates of fatty acids with carnitines. A possible explanation for the complex pattern of medium-chain and oxidized fatty acids formed is that the prolonged exercise provoked the proliferation of peroxisomes. The peroxisomes may provide a readily utilizable form of energy through formation of acetyl carnitine and other acyl carnitines for export to mitochondria in the muscles; and secondly may serve to regulate the levels of oxidized metabolites of long-chain fatty acids. This is the first study to provide evidence of the metabolic profile in response to prolonged ultramarathon running using an untargeted approach. The findings provide an insight to the effects of ultramarathon running on the metabolic specificities and alterations that may demonstrate cardio-protective effects.

Metabolite Concentration Changes in Humans After a Bout of Exercise: a Systematic Review of Exercise Metabolomics Studies

“…What differs the most between studies is the duration of the exercise. The two studies [23,31,40,47] that had the biggest difference in protocols and energy demand (a VO 2max test of~10-15 min versus a simulated ultra-marathon of~8-9 h) had the highest differences in fold-change after exercise ( Fig. 10).…”

“…11). Generally, the concentrations of nucleotide degradation products increase most after highintensity exercise [63] and most concentration changes occur between > 0.5 and 3 h after exercise [31,43] (Figs. 4 and 11).…”

Nutrition for Ultramarathon Running: Trail, Track, and Road

“…Determining whole-body fuel utilization during ultramarathon events presents challenges and complexities, which will impact on the magnitude of exercise stress, and subsequently dictate fuel kinetics (Howe et al, 2018). Although a comprehensive evaluation of dietary manipulation in ultramarathon runners has not yet been completed, positive correlations of preexercise dietary carbohydrate manipulations and during running and carbohydrate intake with performance outcomes are consistently observed in endurance models, which may be applicable to ultramarathon runners (Smith et al, 2013;Stellingwerff & Cox, 2014).…”

Metabolite Shifts Induced by Marathon Race Competition Differ between Athletes Based on Level of Fitness and Performance: A Substudy of the Enzy-MagIC Study

“…In one of the earliest studies, Lewis et al used a targeted metabolomics approach to analyze 25 runners who participated in the Boston Marathon [10]. They observed a reduction in glucogenic amino acids and an increase of metabolites related to lipolysis and ketone body production, and these findings have been confirmed in more recent studies using improved MS technology [6][7][8]11,12]. Post-race concentrations of plasma glycerol were highest among runners with a higher relative maximum oxygen uptake (VO 2 max) compared to those with lower aerobic capacities.…”