Blood biomarkers in male and female participants after an Ironman-distance triathlon

Abstract

BackgroundWhile overall physical activity is clearly associated with a better short-term and long-term health, prolonged strenuous physical activity may result in a rise in acute levels of blood-biomarkers used in clinical practice for diagnosis of various conditions or diseases. In this study, we explored the acute effects of a full Ironman-distance triathlon on biomarkers related to heart-, liver-, kidney- and skeletal muscle damage immediately post-race and after one week’s rest. We also examined if sex, age, finishing time and body composition influenced the post-race values of the biomarkers.MethodsA sample of 30 subjects was recruited (50% women) to the study. The subjects were evaluated for body composition and blood samples were taken at three occasions, before the race (T1), immediately after (T2) and one week after the race (T3). Linear regression models were fitted to analyse the independent contribution of sex and finishing time controlled for weight, body fat percentage and age, on the biomarkers at the termination of the race (T2). Linear mixed models were fitted to examine if the biomarkers differed between the sexes over time (T1-T3).ResultsBeing male was a significant predictor of higher post-race (T2) levels of myoglobin, CK, and creatinine levels and body weight was negatively associated with myoglobin. In general, the models were unable to explain the variation of the dependent variables. In the linear mixed models, an interaction between time (T1-T3) and sex was seen for myoglobin and creatinine, in which women had a less pronounced response to the race.ConclusionOverall women appear to tolerate the effects of prolonged strenuous physical activity better than men as illustrated by their lower values of the biomarkers both post-race as well as during recovery.

Supplementation with a Mango Leaf Extract (Zynamite®) in Combination with Quercetin Attenuates Muscle Damage and Pain and Accelerates Recovery after Strenuous Damaging Exercise

“…Although EIMD is similar between men and women, the inflammatory response is more marked in men [51,52]. This sex dimorphism has been attributed to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of estrogens [53,54].…”

Two-peaked increase of serum myosin heavy chain-α after triathlon suggests heart muscle cell death

“…However, most questions regarding the possible repetitive injury to the heart through high volume endurance exercise and their clinical consequences are unanswered and the different observations have yet to be put together to a fitting theory 8 9. One of the vexing observations which has been known for several decades is the phenomenon of troponin elevations after exercise,10 namely after marathon,11 triathlon12 13 or ultrarunning 14. Troponin elevation after exercise marathon has been reported since at least the 1990s to varying extent 10.…”

Aerobic capacity predicts skeletal but not cardiac muscle damage after a full distance Ironman triathlon - the Iron(wo)man-study

“…Ultra-endurance races such as the the Ironman triathlon (3.8 km swimming, 180 km cycling and 42.2 km running) has been on the rise since the mid-1980s and the proportion of women participating is currently around 15 % [1]. Even though physical activity in general has positive health effects, ultra-endurance races, such as an Ironman triathlon, lead to a rise in biomarkers of skeletaland cardiac muscle damage [2]. However, most of the previous studies in the area have been conducted on elite athletes and the physiological responses to such performances may not be applicable to less trained, amateur athletes.…”