Key result
A 171 km ultra-trail race resulted in significantly higher circulating levels of IL-6, IL-1β, MCP-1, and IFN-γ compared to a 40 km trail race.
Why the study?
Endurance running causes inflammation and increases cytokine production, but the specific effects of ultramarathons on cytokine profiles are not well characterized.
Does a 171 km ultra-trail race induce greater modulations in cytokine profiles compared to a 40 km trail race in endurance runners?
Observational (n=23)
Does a 171 km ultra-trail race induce greater modulations in cytokine profiles compared to a 40 km trail race in endurance runners?
Ultra-endurance running (171 km) induces a more profound inflammatory cytokine response compared to standard marathon-distance trail running (40 km).
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Greater cytokine elevations after 171 km vs 40 km races; hypothesis-generating for ultra-endurance inflammation, needs prospective validation before clinical relevance.
BACKGROUND: Endurance running events are known to cause inflammation and result in increased cytokine production. However, the effects of ultramarathons on cytokine profiles are not well characterized. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe and compare the effects of a trail (40 km) race and an ultra-trail (171 km) race on leukocyte concentrations and cytokine profiles. METHODS: The study was conducted during the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc® ultra-marathon running event, and included 11 runners who completed the 40 km trail run and 12 runners who completed the 171 km ultra-trail. Blood samples were taken before and after the races. RESULTS: Leukocyte concentrations significantly increased after both races. Circulating levels of IL-6, IL-1β, MCP-1, and IFN-γ were significantly higher after the longer race compared to the shorter race. Furthermore, while both races resulted in significant increases in IL-6 and IL-8, only the longer race resulted in significant increases in MIP-1β, IL-7, IL-17a, and IL-4. CONCLUSIONS: These results illustrate that a 171 km ultra-trail race results in greater modulations in cytokine profiles than a traditional trail race.
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Skinner et al. (2021) conducted an observational in Endurance running (n=23). 171 km ultra-trail race vs. 40 km trail race was evaluated on Leukocyte concentrations and cytokine profiles. A 171 km ultra-trail race resulted in significantly higher circulating levels of IL-6, IL-1β, MCP-1, and IFN-γ compared to a 40 km trail race.
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