Biomarkers of muscle and cartilage damage and inflammation during a 200 km run

Abstract

Ultra-marathon running is frequently associated with muscle fibre damage. However, ultra-marathon related information is scarce. The present study evaluated muscle and cartilage biomarkers, and cytokine secretion during a 200 km running event. Venous blood samples from 54 trained male ultra-marathon runners (mean +/- SD, 45.7 +/- 5.1 years). Plasma creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate, glucose, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), TNF- proportional, variant and serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) content were determined before, midway and immediately after the race. CPK increased 90-fold (19-fold at 100 km) from pre-race value and LDH increased 3.7-fold (2.2-fold at 100 km). AST increased 15-fold (5-fold at 100 km) and ALT increased 3.9-fold (2-fold at 100 km). Blood lactate and glucose levels did not change significantly. Hs-CRP increased 23-fold (3-fold at 100 km) and IL-6 increased 121-fold at 100 km, and then remained stable up to 200 km, whereas TNF- proportional, variant did not change significantly. Serum COMP increased 3-fold (1.3-fold at 100 km). Post-run CPK was correlated with LDH (r = 0.62, P < 0.001), Hs-CRP (r = 0.45, P < 0.001), ALT (r = 0.89, P < 0.001), AST (r = 0.97, P < 0.001), and IL-6 (r = 0.61, P < 0.001). The present study demonstrated that blood biomarkers related to muscle and cartilage damage and inflammation were increased during a 200 km run and that this was particularly marked during the second half of the event. Ultra-marathon running clearly has a major impact on muscle and cartilage structures.

Evaluation of the effect of glucosamine administration on biomarkers for cartilage and bone metabolism in soccer players

“…1), indicating that cartilage and bone metabolism (type II collagen degradation and bone resorption) is increased in soccer players as reported in other sports players and experimental animal models with extremes of skeletal exercise (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). Moreover, CPII level was substantially increased in soccer players compared with that in controls (Fig.…”

“…Thus, various molecular markers have been developed as indicators of cartilage and bone metabolism in patients with joint and bone disorders (8)(9)(10)(11). In this context, it is interesting to note that sports-related mechanical loading on the joints affects the turnover rate of cartilage as well as bone in humans and experimental animal models, which can be detected by systemic biomarker assays (1)(2)(3)(4)(5).…”

Normalization of Varus/Valgus Deformities in Osteoarthritis by External Application of Phytoconstituents: Confirmed With Anatomical Observations and Biochemical Profiles and Radiological Images

“…In the present study, biochemical parameters such as C-reactive protein (CRP), muscle creatine phosphokinase (CPK mm) and aldolase-A were recorded separately followed by the methods of other researchers [26][27][28]. The biochemical parameters were done from blood/serum, collected individually for all males and females.…”

Ultramarathon Running: Medical Issues

“…A single bout of strenuous running exercise results in perturbations to numerous biomarkers and the magnitude of changes to biomarkers are proportional to the severity of the running bout [73]. Ultramarathon running can produce changes to biomarkers that are normally associated with pathology of the muscles, liver and heart [74][75][76]. However, also markers of the inflammatory response such as C-reactive protein [77][78][79] and IL-6 [77,79,80] become elevated.…”

“…However, also markers of the inflammatory response such as C-reactive protein [77][78][79] and IL-6 [77,79,80] become elevated. Examples for biomarkers of pathology of muscles, liver and heart are cardiac troponins, plasma volume, myoglobin, leucocytes, sodium, chloride, urea, alkaline phosphatase, gammaglutamyltransferase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, bilirubin, total protein, albumin, glucose, calcium, and phosphate [73][74][75][76][80][81][82]. A number of variables remain within normal limits despite severe physical stress [80].…”