Open Access

Cardiovascular adaptations and inflammation in marathon runners

  • Authors:
    • Konstantinos Tsarouhas
    • Christina Tsitsimpikou
    • Antonios Samaras
    • Christos Saravanis
    • Genovefa Kolovou
    • Flora Bacopoulou
    • Demetrios A. Spandidos
    • Dimitrios Kouretas
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 29, 2022     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2022.11635
  • Article Number: 699
  • Copyright: © Tsarouhas et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Long‑distance running has become increasingly popular. Cardiovascular adaptations to exercise are relevant to the specific sports and this is also the case in long‑distance running. Significant changes regarding inflammatory and endothelial markers along with indices of oxidative stress are observed in marathon and ultra‑marathon runners. However, data linking inflammatory marker levels with cardiovascular adaptations to marathon running are limited. The aim of the present study was to describe the cardiovascular adaptations observed in a group of ultra‑marathon runners and the association with a series of inflammatory and endothelial markers measured in their plasma. A total of 43 ultra‑marathon runners were assessed by echocardiography and a treadmill exercise test. Blood samples were used for tumor necrosis factor‑α (TNF‑α), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), interleukin (IL)‑6, IL‑10, C‑reactive protein, creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and oxidative stress indice measurements. Ultra‑marathon runners who presented augmented left ventricular (LV) end diastolic diameters >55 mm had higher ADMA values (1.07±0.07 vs. 0.99±0.08 µmol/ml, P<0.01) and lower CPK values (192.5±21.3 vs. 219.1±37.3 mg/dl, P<0.05) compared with those with normal LV diameters. Runners with a moderate and severe abnormal indexed LV mass >131 g/m2 had statistically significant higher TNF‑α values compared with runners, with mildly elevated and a normal LV mass indexed (16.2±1.42 vs. 14.0+1.16 pg/ml, P<0.05). Runners with an abnormal left atrial volume index (LAVI; >29 ml/m2) had higher IL‑6 values compared with runners with a normal LAVI (1.09+0.19 vs. 0.99±0.08 pg/ml, P<0.05). ROC curves analysis revealed that ADMA values were able to predict an abnormal LV diameter detected by echocardiography [P<0.05; area under the curve (AUC), 0.763], while TNF‑α values could predict an abnormal LV mass in marathon runners (P<0.05; AUC, 0.78). On the whole, the present study demonstrates that, in ultra‑marathon runners, cardiovascular adaptations to running are characterized by a specific pattern of changes in inflammatory and endothelial markers, which in turn can be used to predict the occurrence of the observed adaptations.
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November-2022
Volume 24 Issue 5

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Spandidos Publications style
Tsarouhas K, Tsitsimpikou C, Samaras A, Saravanis C, Kolovou G, Bacopoulou F, Spandidos DA and Kouretas D: Cardiovascular adaptations and inflammation in marathon runners. Exp Ther Med 24: 699, 2022
APA
Tsarouhas, K., Tsitsimpikou, C., Samaras, A., Saravanis, C., Kolovou, G., Bacopoulou, F. ... Kouretas, D. (2022). Cardiovascular adaptations and inflammation in marathon runners. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 24, 699. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2022.11635
MLA
Tsarouhas, K., Tsitsimpikou, C., Samaras, A., Saravanis, C., Kolovou, G., Bacopoulou, F., Spandidos, D. A., Kouretas, D."Cardiovascular adaptations and inflammation in marathon runners". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 24.5 (2022): 699.
Chicago
Tsarouhas, K., Tsitsimpikou, C., Samaras, A., Saravanis, C., Kolovou, G., Bacopoulou, F., Spandidos, D. A., Kouretas, D."Cardiovascular adaptations and inflammation in marathon runners". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 24, no. 5 (2022): 699. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2022.11635