Key result
A 3-stage trail race is linked to a ~2044% post-race increase in muscle damage markers.
Why the study?
Detailed knowledge of the time-course of muscular, cardiac, and inflammatory biomarker restoration after multi-stage races was needed to help design training schedules that prevent athlete exhaustion and adverse outcomes.
Does a 3-stage trail running race alter blood parameters and serum biomarkers associated with muscle damage and inflammation in runners?
Observational (n=10)
Does a 3-stage trail running race alter blood parameters and serum biomarkers associated with muscle damage and inflammation in runners?
A 3-stage trail running race induces significant muscle damage and systemic inflammation, with some biomarkers remaining elevated 5 days post-race.
May warrant extended recovery monitoring in trail runners; leaves open links to cardiovascular outcomes.
BACKGROUND: Participants in ultramarathon and multi-stage races are continuously increasing. A detailed knowledge of the time-course of the restoration in muscular, cardiac, and inflammatory biomarkers after a multi-stage race may help the design of training schedules focused to avoid adverse outcomes of repetitive high-intensity endurance exercise and athlete exhaustion. Thus, the aim of the study was to evaluate blood parameters and serum biomarkers associated to muscle damage and inflammation in athletes participating in a 3-stage competition. METHODS: Ten runners concluded the race "Magraid" consisting of 3 stages of 22, 48 and 20 km. Before (PRE), immediately after the end of the third stage (POST) and five days after the last stage (R5d), we collected blood samples. RESULTS: Among others, at POST mean white blood cell (+57±42%; P=0.006), blood urea nitrogen (+68±39%; P<0.001), creatinine (+17±12%, P=0.005), alanine aminotransferase (ALT, +104±69%; P=0.002), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, +116±64%; P<0.001), creatine kinase (CK, +2044±1433%; P=0.011), CK-MBm (+1544±1007%; P=0.004), cardiac troponin I (cTnI, +85±129%; P=0.015), C-reactive protein (hsCRP, +2137±1660%; P=0.015) were higher than PRE. At R5d, ALT (+72±53%; P=0.010), LDH (+32±25%; P=0.006) and hsCRP (+252±234%; P=0.021) were still different compared with PRE. CONCLUSIONS: A 3-stage trail running race induces an inflammatory status and muscle damage and functional consequences on some physiological systems that may not be completely recovered within a short period.
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Giovanelli et al. (2020) conducted an observational in Athletes participating in a 3-stage trail running race (n=10). 3-stage trail running race vs. Baseline (PRE) was evaluated on Blood parameters and serum biomarkers associated to muscle damage and inflammation. A 3-stage trail running race significantly increased markers of muscle damage and inflammation immediately post-race (e.g., CK +2044±1433%, P=0.011), with some remaining elevated 5 days later.
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