Author(s): Alena Žákovská,Daniela Chlíbková / Language(s): English
Publication Year: 0
This thesis deals with ultra-endurance events, number of which raised over the last decade and that became very popular. There are not many scientific papers published concerning the influence of ultra-endurance exercise on human health. Therefore, objective of the study was to monitor ultra-endurance athletes in order to define the influence of strenous exercise on selected diagnostic markers. Selected physiological markers are connected to adverse effects of strenous exercise – rhabdomyolysis, hyponatremia, upper respiratory tract infections and liver damage. Tested subjects (total number of 116 athletes) were ultra-runners and ultra-cyclists who participated in 24-hour races and multi-stage races. Blood samples were obtained from cubital vein and following markers were analysed: Blood samples were obtained to determine leukocrit. From plasma pre- and post-race CK, [Na+ ], [K+ ], and urine creatinine and from sera LDH and ALT enzymes and immunoglobulins levels were measured by spectrophotometric method using assay kits. Creatine kinase levels increased after the race (2.9 ± 1.7 to 38.7 ± 78.9 µkat/l, p << 0.01), which refer to possible muscle damage. This was supported by increased potassium levels (pre-race 4.4 ± 1.2; post-race 5.0 ± 0.8 mmol/l, p = 0.19). Based on increase in post-race white blood cell counts (pre-race 5.6 ± 1.6, post-race 10.2 ± 3.3 x109 /l, p << 0,01) and decrease in serum immunoglobulin A levels (156.0 ± 35.1 vs. 148.8 ± 34.2 mg/dl, p << 0.01), we confirm the hypothesis concerning post-race immunosupression. Decreased immunoglobulin M levels (pre-race 169.4 ± 85.9; post-race 150.5 ± 76.9 mg/dl, p << 0.01) refer to acute inflammation. On the other hand, we reject the hypothesis of increased incidence of hyponatremia in ultra-endurance athletes. It can be assumed, that due to increased levels of alanin aminotransferase (pre-race 0.5 ± 0.3; post-race 1.0 ± 0.5 µkat/l, p << 0.01) and lactate dehydrogenase (pre-race 1.8 ± 0.7, post-race 3.0 ± 1.1 µkat/l, p << 0.01), liver damage can be involved.
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