83
Clinica
Chimica
@ Elsevier
Acta,
Scientific
65 (1975) 83-89 Publishing Company,
Amsterdam
- Printed
in The Netherlands
CGA 7398
THE EFFECT VARIABLES
W.J. RILEY*,
OF LONG-DISTANCE
F.S. PYKE, A.D. ROBERTS
RUNNING
ON SOME BIOCHEMICAL
and J.F. ENGLAND
Department of Biochemistry, Royal Perth Hospital and Department University of Western Australia, Perth, W.A. 6001 (Australia)
Received
of Physical
Education,
June 16, 1975)
Summary Biochemical variables have been measured in a group of volunteers during and after a long-distance run. Plasma glucose levels remained relatively constant and a significant decrease in plasma bicarbonate was noted. Plasma sodium, chloride, total protein, albumin and calcium showed significant increases of an order compatible with water losses occurring during the run. Plasma potassium, urea, creatinine, uric acid, phosphate and bilirubin all show much more marked and variable increases. The plasma enzymes alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase likewise increased significantly throughout the run. Whilst most constituents showed a tendency to return to normal at 20-30 hours after the run, gross increases were observed for aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase. -
-
Introduction In recent years attention has been focussed on factors affecting the distribution of values of biochemical parameters within healthy reference populations. Of these factors the effect of exercise has been the subject of several reports [l-7]. These studies have been concerned with measurement of a variety of blood constituents following various degrees of exercise. In only one case were the studies extended for longer than a few minutes beyond the period of exercise. In view of the number of experimental situations involved it is, perhaps, not surprising that it remains difficult to draw general conclusions as to effect of exercise on biochemical variables. The present report describes the changes occurring in commonly measured biochemical variables during severe, prolonged exercise and in the subsequent 30 hours. * Address G.P.O.
for Box
correspondence: 2213.
Perth.
Dr.
Western
W.J.
Riley,
Australia
Royal
6001.
Perth
Hospital.
Department
of
Biochemistry.
84
Methods Five well-trained men volunteered for the study. One of the men (RM) was a trained distance runner with a high aerobic power. He was the Canadian cross country champion in 1971 and at the time of the study was preparing for marathon racing in Australia. The other subjects (RB, BO, DW, FP) were regular joggers of moderate aerobic power. The characteristics of the subjects are summarised in Table I. The trained distance runner had been averaging 110-l 50 km per week in training for several months, where the joggers increased their running mileage to 50 km per week in the month prior to the marathon. In this time the longest distance covered in a single session by the four joggers was 25 km. The marathon was run over 8 laps of a relatively flat 5.25 km road circuit. A testing station was established on the circuit to measure the responses of the men throughout the run. The environmental conditions during the run were favourable for a performance of this type (temperature 19.6-21.4”C, relative humidity 52-60%, wind speed O-4 knots, cloud 7/8). The objective of each subject was to run the full marathon distance with stops being permitted at the testing station for necessary measures to be taken. Any subject who could no longer maintain the running gait and had commenced periods of walking was withdrawn, Blood samples were drawn before the run, after 10.5 km, and 26.25 km, and at the end of the run. Blood was withdrawn by venesection, and anticoagulated with lithium heparin for biochemical analysis. A second sample was preserved with thymol-fluoride for glucose assay. All samples were kept in a cool box until completion of the run when they were’centrifuged, and the plasma removed and stored at 4°C until analysis next day. Follow up specimens were centrifuged immediately after collection and analysed on the same day. Sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, urea, creatinine, protein, albumin, calcium, phosphate, uric acid, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase were measured on autoanalysers@ by standard methods. Glucose was Technicon@ multi-channel measured on a Beckman@ glucose analyser. Body weight was measured before the run, after 10.5, 21.0 and 31.5 km, and at the end of the run with Avery scales accurate to *lo g. Replacement fluid (Staminade enriched with glucose) was given ad lib after the first 10.5 km, but was measured and accounted for in calculations of net weight loss.
TABLE
I
CHARACTERISTICS Subject
OF
THE
SUBJECTS
Age
Ht
Wt
BSA
Body
(Y-u-)
(cm)
(kg)
(m2)
w)
RM
24
176.3
63.2
1.78
9.3
73.3
RB
33
167.6
57.5
1.66
10.3
54.0
BO
28
177.0
86.7
2.04
10.8
52.2
DN
28
184.1
82.7
2.06
9.6
51.1
FP
32
181.5
77.9
1.99
9.9
46.6
fat
v02max (ml/kg
X min)
85
The subjects went on a two hour run three days before the experimental run. By consuming a high carbohydrate diet in these 3 days before the experiment, an attempt was made to increase muscle glycogen levels. This had the subsidiary effect of increasing body water content and at the marathon start the men weighed an average of 2.4 kg greater than their usual weight. Rectal temperature was measured with a probe inserted to a depth of 10 cm in the rectum and maintained in position throughout the run. During each stop at the test station, the temperature was recorded with a YSI Telethermometer. Results and discussion Only one subject (DW) was able to continue running for the complete marathon distance (3 h 52 min 38 s). The trained distance runner (RM) was forced to withdraw after 31.5 km (1 h 52 min 47 s) with a recurrence of a previous foot injury. RB also experienced difficulty with joint soreness after 31.5 km which reduced his running speed and eventually forced him to a walking pace. The other two subjects (FP, BO) withdrew after 31.5 km suffering from heat stress, with rectal temperatures of 39.9”C and 40.3”C, respectively. This stress was imposed by an inability to cope with the metabolic heat generated during the prolonged running period. The results of the blood analyses at different stages during the marathon are summarised in Table II. No significant changes were observed in plasma glucose except that an occasional rise presumably due to a post-absorptive increase was observed. In no case was there any significant fall below initial levels. All other results shown in Table II fall into four distinct groups. The first group (Group B) comprises packed cell volume, plasma sodium, plasma chloride, plasma total protein, plasma albumin and plasma calcium. In each instance there is a progressive increase in concentration throughout the duration of the run. This group contains those constituents which might be expected to reflect the level of hydration of the runners. Thus percentage changes in concentrations observed in this group (3.3-7.8s) are of the same order as the percentage decrease in body weight (5.4%). Variation within the group possibly indicates relative loss of the constituent involved. For example, plasma sodium shows the least change suggesting that the runners lost a considerable amount of sodium as well as water in their sweat. On the other hand, plasma total protein and plasma albumin show very similar changes and these are probably due almost entirely to water loss, but redistribution of water cannot be excluded. The changes observed in the present study were similar for sodium and total protein as those reported by Rose et al. [l] even though in the latter case, basal levels were somewhat lower. These authors however, observed no change in either chloride or calcium concentration. No explanation for these discrepancies can be offered although in the present study it would have been surprising not to have seen an increase in plasma calcium concentration having regard to the marked increase in plasma albumin and the mild acidosis as indicated by plasma bicarbonate measurements. Total protein, and calcium were
VARIABLES
IN LONG-DISTANCE
RUNNERS
7.88 + 0.14
Plasma total protein (g/100 (6.3-7.8)
Plasma calcium (ma/100 (9.0-10.5)
ml)
ml)
102.6
Plasma chloride (mmol/l) (97-110)
Plasma albumin (g/100 (3.5-4.5)
143.2
Plasma sodium (mmol/l) (134-146)
ml)
47.40
Packed c&I volume (%) (40-50)
B
10.18
i 0.14
4.36 +_0.07
+ 1.02
i 0.39
+ 0.67
t 1.82
84.80
Plasma glucose (mg/lOO ml)
A
0
Diitance (km)
Constituent measured
Group
+ 4*49
10.50 + 0.13 p < 0.01
4.58 -t 0.07 p < 0.01
8.24 i: 0.14 p < 0‘005
106.2 i 0.73 p < 0.01
145.4 + 0.40 p < 0.02
48.98 IO.73 p < 0.02
94.40 ns.
10.5
All results are expressed as mean + S.E.M. Reference values for this laboratory are given in parentheses.
BIOCHEMICAL
TABLE II
+ 0.55
c 0.51
t 0.95
4.70 * 0.08 p < 0.01 10.72 L 0.13 p
Clinica
Chimica
@ Elsevier
Acta,
Scientific
65 (1975) 83-89 Publishing Company,
Amsterdam
- Printed
in The Netherlands
CGA 7398
THE EFFECT VARIABLES
W.J. RILEY*,
OF LONG-DISTANCE
F.S. PYKE, A.D. ROBERTS
RUNNING
ON SOME BIOCHEMICAL
and J.F. ENGLAND
Department of Biochemistry, Royal Perth Hospital and Department University of Western Australia, Perth, W.A. 6001 (Australia)
Received
of Physical
Education,
June 16, 1975)
Summary Biochemical variables have been measured in a group of volunteers during and after a long-distance run. Plasma glucose levels remained relatively constant and a significant decrease in plasma bicarbonate was noted. Plasma sodium, chloride, total protein, albumin and calcium showed significant increases of an order compatible with water losses occurring during the run. Plasma potassium, urea, creatinine, uric acid, phosphate and bilirubin all show much more marked and variable increases. The plasma enzymes alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase likewise increased significantly throughout the run. Whilst most constituents showed a tendency to return to normal at 20-30 hours after the run, gross increases were observed for aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase. -
-
Introduction In recent years attention has been focussed on factors affecting the distribution of values of biochemical parameters within healthy reference populations. Of these factors the effect of exercise has been the subject of several reports [l-7]. These studies have been concerned with measurement of a variety of blood constituents following various degrees of exercise. In only one case were the studies extended for longer than a few minutes beyond the period of exercise. In view of the number of experimental situations involved it is, perhaps, not surprising that it remains difficult to draw general conclusions as to effect of exercise on biochemical variables. The present report describes the changes occurring in commonly measured biochemical variables during severe, prolonged exercise and in the subsequent 30 hours. * Address G.P.O.
for Box
correspondence: 2213.
Perth.
Dr.
Western
W.J.
Riley,
Australia
Royal
6001.
Perth
Hospital.
Department
of
Biochemistry.
84
Methods Five well-trained men volunteered for the study. One of the men (RM) was a trained distance runner with a high aerobic power. He was the Canadian cross country champion in 1971 and at the time of the study was preparing for marathon racing in Australia. The other subjects (RB, BO, DW, FP) were regular joggers of moderate aerobic power. The characteristics of the subjects are summarised in Table I. The trained distance runner had been averaging 110-l 50 km per week in training for several months, where the joggers increased their running mileage to 50 km per week in the month prior to the marathon. In this time the longest distance covered in a single session by the four joggers was 25 km. The marathon was run over 8 laps of a relatively flat 5.25 km road circuit. A testing station was established on the circuit to measure the responses of the men throughout the run. The environmental conditions during the run were favourable for a performance of this type (temperature 19.6-21.4”C, relative humidity 52-60%, wind speed O-4 knots, cloud 7/8). The objective of each subject was to run the full marathon distance with stops being permitted at the testing station for necessary measures to be taken. Any subject who could no longer maintain the running gait and had commenced periods of walking was withdrawn, Blood samples were drawn before the run, after 10.5 km, and 26.25 km, and at the end of the run. Blood was withdrawn by venesection, and anticoagulated with lithium heparin for biochemical analysis. A second sample was preserved with thymol-fluoride for glucose assay. All samples were kept in a cool box until completion of the run when they were’centrifuged, and the plasma removed and stored at 4°C until analysis next day. Follow up specimens were centrifuged immediately after collection and analysed on the same day. Sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, urea, creatinine, protein, albumin, calcium, phosphate, uric acid, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase were measured on autoanalysers@ by standard methods. Glucose was Technicon@ multi-channel measured on a Beckman@ glucose analyser. Body weight was measured before the run, after 10.5, 21.0 and 31.5 km, and at the end of the run with Avery scales accurate to *lo g. Replacement fluid (Staminade enriched with glucose) was given ad lib after the first 10.5 km, but was measured and accounted for in calculations of net weight loss.
TABLE
I
CHARACTERISTICS Subject
OF
THE
SUBJECTS
Age
Ht
Wt
BSA
Body
(Y-u-)
(cm)
(kg)
(m2)
w)
RM
24
176.3
63.2
1.78
9.3
73.3
RB
33
167.6
57.5
1.66
10.3
54.0
BO
28
177.0
86.7
2.04
10.8
52.2
DN
28
184.1
82.7
2.06
9.6
51.1
FP
32
181.5
77.9
1.99
9.9
46.6
fat
v02max (ml/kg
X min)
85
The subjects went on a two hour run three days before the experimental run. By consuming a high carbohydrate diet in these 3 days before the experiment, an attempt was made to increase muscle glycogen levels. This had the subsidiary effect of increasing body water content and at the marathon start the men weighed an average of 2.4 kg greater than their usual weight. Rectal temperature was measured with a probe inserted to a depth of 10 cm in the rectum and maintained in position throughout the run. During each stop at the test station, the temperature was recorded with a YSI Telethermometer. Results and discussion Only one subject (DW) was able to continue running for the complete marathon distance (3 h 52 min 38 s). The trained distance runner (RM) was forced to withdraw after 31.5 km (1 h 52 min 47 s) with a recurrence of a previous foot injury. RB also experienced difficulty with joint soreness after 31.5 km which reduced his running speed and eventually forced him to a walking pace. The other two subjects (FP, BO) withdrew after 31.5 km suffering from heat stress, with rectal temperatures of 39.9”C and 40.3”C, respectively. This stress was imposed by an inability to cope with the metabolic heat generated during the prolonged running period. The results of the blood analyses at different stages during the marathon are summarised in Table II. No significant changes were observed in plasma glucose except that an occasional rise presumably due to a post-absorptive increase was observed. In no case was there any significant fall below initial levels. All other results shown in Table II fall into four distinct groups. The first group (Group B) comprises packed cell volume, plasma sodium, plasma chloride, plasma total protein, plasma albumin and plasma calcium. In each instance there is a progressive increase in concentration throughout the duration of the run. This group contains those constituents which might be expected to reflect the level of hydration of the runners. Thus percentage changes in concentrations observed in this group (3.3-7.8s) are of the same order as the percentage decrease in body weight (5.4%). Variation within the group possibly indicates relative loss of the constituent involved. For example, plasma sodium shows the least change suggesting that the runners lost a considerable amount of sodium as well as water in their sweat. On the other hand, plasma total protein and plasma albumin show very similar changes and these are probably due almost entirely to water loss, but redistribution of water cannot be excluded. The changes observed in the present study were similar for sodium and total protein as those reported by Rose et al. [l] even though in the latter case, basal levels were somewhat lower. These authors however, observed no change in either chloride or calcium concentration. No explanation for these discrepancies can be offered although in the present study it would have been surprising not to have seen an increase in plasma calcium concentration having regard to the marked increase in plasma albumin and the mild acidosis as indicated by plasma bicarbonate measurements. Total protein, and calcium were
VARIABLES
IN LONG-DISTANCE
RUNNERS
7.88 + 0.14
Plasma total protein (g/100 (6.3-7.8)
Plasma calcium (ma/100 (9.0-10.5)
ml)
ml)
102.6
Plasma chloride (mmol/l) (97-110)
Plasma albumin (g/100 (3.5-4.5)
143.2
Plasma sodium (mmol/l) (134-146)
ml)
47.40
Packed c&I volume (%) (40-50)
B
10.18
i 0.14
4.36 +_0.07
+ 1.02
i 0.39
+ 0.67
t 1.82
84.80
Plasma glucose (mg/lOO ml)
A
0
Diitance (km)
Constituent measured
Group
+ 4*49
10.50 + 0.13 p < 0.01
4.58 -t 0.07 p < 0.01
8.24 i: 0.14 p < 0‘005
106.2 i 0.73 p < 0.01
145.4 + 0.40 p < 0.02
48.98 IO.73 p < 0.02
94.40 ns.
10.5
All results are expressed as mean + S.E.M. Reference values for this laboratory are given in parentheses.
BIOCHEMICAL
TABLE II
+ 0.55
c 0.51
t 0.95
4.70 * 0.08 p < 0.01 10.72 L 0.13 p
