Metabolite shifts induced by marathon race competition differ between athletes based on level of fitness and performance: a substudy of the enzy-magIC study

Schader JF, Haid M, Cecil A, Schoenfeld J, Halle M, Pfeufer A, Prehn C, Adamski J, Nieman DC, Scherr J (2020)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

Metabolites MDPI

Book Volume: 10

Article Number: 87

Journal Issue: 3

DOI: 10.3390/metabo10030087

Abstract

This study compared metabolite shifts induced by training for, participation in, and recovery from a marathon race competition among athletes divided into three groups based on fitness (relative maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max)) and performance levels (net running time). Plasma samples from 76 male runners participating in the Munich Marathon were analyzed for metabolite shifts using a targeted metabolomics panel. For the entire cohort of runners, pronounced increases were measured immediately after the race for plasma concentrations of acylcarnitines (AC), the ratio (palmitoylcarnitine + stearoylcarnitine)/free carnitine that is used as a proxy for the activity of the mitochondrial enzyme carnitine palmitoyltransferase, and arginine-related metabolites, with decreases in most amino acids (AA) and phospholipids. Plasma levels of AA and phospholipids were strongly increased 24 and 72 h post-race. Post-race plasma concentrations of AC and arginine-related metabolites were higher in the low compared to top performers, indicating an accumulation of fatty acids and a reliance on protein catabolism to provide energy after the marathon event. This study showed that marathon race competition is associated with an extensive and prolonged perturbation in plasma metabolite concentrations with a strong AC signature that is greater in the slower, less aerobically fit runners. Furthermore, changes in the arginine-related metabolites were observed.

Involved external institutions

Technische Universität München (TUM) DE Germany (DE) Helmholtz Zentrum München - Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (HMGU) / Helmholtz Munich DE Germany (DE) Appalachian State University US United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Schader, J.F., Haid, M., Cecil, A., Schoenfeld, J., Halle, M., Pfeufer, A.,... Scherr, J. (2020). Metabolite shifts induced by marathon race competition differ between athletes based on level of fitness and performance: a substudy of the enzy-magIC study. Metabolites, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo10030087

MLA:

Schader, Jana F., et al. "Metabolite shifts induced by marathon race competition differ between athletes based on level of fitness and performance: a substudy of the enzy-magIC study." Metabolites 10.3 (2020).

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