Abstract
Marathon racing is a strenuous exercise that has a profound effect on many laboratory parameters. Participants in marathon races may require abstinence of exercise and the performance of laboratory assays several days after the event. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible changes in blood cell count and biochemical parameters observed in participants in a marathon 3 days before and 3 days after and before and immediately after a cardiopulmonary exercise test. Incremental cycle ergometry up to maximal capacity was performed in 7 marathon runners, 3 days before and 3 days after the race. The % peak oxygen consumption (peak %VO2) achieved was statistically significantly lower after than before the race (p = 0.02). No statistically significant differences were observed in cardiac frequency (p = 0.148) or blood cell count (p = 0.501). Also, the concentration of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), phosphocreatine kinase (CPK) and glucose, measured before and immediately after the pulmonary exercise test, did not differ significantly (p < 0.5). A significant percentage of the laboratory results were outside the standard reference rates. According to our data, exercise performance, as expressed by peak %VO2, continued to be decreased in marathon runners 3 days after the race. The blood cell count and biochemical parameters did not differ significantly but many marathon runners were outside the standard reference rates. Unfortunately, only 7 subjects were available for this study. Further studies with larger samples and with samples obtained at multiple times during and after exercise are needed to clarify the effects of long-distance running.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
AJ Siegel (2002) ArticleTitleRole for on-site point-of-care testing in the emergency care of athletes with exercise-associated collapse. Point of Care J Near-Patient Testing Technol 1 132–134
JB Blake RC Larrabee (1903) ArticleTitleObservations upon long-distance runners. Boston Med Surg J 148 195–206
CL Wells JR Stern LH Hecht (1982) ArticleTitleHematological changes following a marathon race in male and female patients. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 48 41–49 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:Bi2C3sfnsV0%3D Occurrence Handle7199452
RJL Davidson JD Robertson G Galea et al. (1987) ArticleTitleHematological changes associated with marathon running. Int J Sports Med 8 19–25 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiiC28vntlA%3D Occurrence Handle3557778
AJ Siegel JJ Stec I Lipinska et al. (2001) ArticleTitleEffects of marathon running on inflammatory and hemostatic markers. Am J Cardiol 88 918–920 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0002-9149(01)01909-9 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXnslWqsb0%3D Occurrence Handle11676965
P Boudou J Fiet C Laureaux et al. (1987) ArticleTitleVariations de quelques constituents plasmatiques et urinaires chez les marathoniens. Ann Biol Clin (Paris) 45 37–45 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiiB3M7ivVA%3D
RR Kraemer BS Brown (1986) ArticleTitleAlterations in plasma-volume-corrected blood components of marathon runners and concomitant relationship to performance. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 55 579–584 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiiD2Mzpt1U%3D Occurrence Handle3096725
L Roccker KA Kirsch B Heyduck et al. (1989) ArticleTitleInfluence of prolonged physical exercise on plasma volume, plasma proteins, electrolytes and fluid-regulating hormones. Int J Sports Med 10 270–274 Occurrence Handle2691410
I Cohen AL Zimmerman (1978) ArticleTitleChanges in serum electrolyte levels during marathon running. S Afr Med J 53 449–453 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE1cXksVSiurk%3D Occurrence Handle675386
PB Nelson D Ellis F Fu et al. (1989) ArticleTitleFluid and electrolyte balance during a cool weather marathon. Am J Sport Med 17 770–772 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By%2BC28votlw%3D
CP Dancaster SJ Whereat (1971) ArticleTitleFluid and electrolyte balance during the cornrdrades marathon. S Afr Med J 45 147–150 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CS6C28vgtlc%3D Occurrence Handle5553596
MB Maron SM Horvath JE Wilkerson (1975) ArticleTitleAcute blood biochemical alterations in response to marathon running. Eur J Appl Physiol 34 173–181 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE28XlsVSmsbw%3D
CH Wyndham NB Strydom (1969) ArticleTitleThe danger of an inadequate water intake during marathon running. S Afr Med J 43 893–896 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CCaB1MnnsVc%3D Occurrence Handle5821601
TD Noakes BL Goodwin BL Rayner et al. (1985) ArticleTitleWater intoxication: a possible complication during endurance exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 17 370–375 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiqB28jhsFY%3D Occurrence Handle4021781
HD Backer SL Shopes SL Collins et al. (1999) ArticleTitleExertional heat illness and hyponatremia in hikers. Am J Emerg Med 17 532–539 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1MvlvVWisA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10530529
DB Speedy TD Noakes IR Rogers et al. (1999) ArticleTitleHyponatremia in ultradistance triathletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc 31 809–815 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1MzgsFamsA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10378907
TD Noakes BA Adams KH Myburgh et al. (1988) ArticleTitleThe danger of an inadequate water intake during prolonged exercise. A novel concept revisited. Eur J Appl Physiol 57 210–219 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BieC28nmvVA%3D
LI Rose DR Carroll SL Lowe et al. (1970) ArticleTitleSerum electrolytes changes after marathon running. J Appl Physiol 29 449–451 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CS%2BB1MzovVM%3D Occurrence Handle5459911
AJ Siegel MB Sholar J Yang et al. (1997) ArticleTitleElevated serum cardiac markers in asymptomatic marathon runners after competition: Is the myocardium stunned? Cardiology 88 487–491 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXnslyjt7Y%3D Occurrence Handle9397299
AJ Siegel E Lee-Lewandrowski KY Chun et al. (2001) ArticleTitleChanges in cardiac markers including B-natriuretic peptide in runners after the Boston marathon. Am J Cardiol 88 920–923 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0002-9149(01)01910-5 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXnslWqsbo%3D Occurrence Handle11676966
A Kranz K Lewandrowski AJ Siegel et al. (2002) ArticleTitleEffects of marathon running on hematologic and biochemical laboratory parameters, including cardiac markers. Am J Clin Pathol 118 856–863 Occurrence Handle12472278
MA Kolka LA Stephenson JA Wilkerson (1982) ArticleTitleErythrocyte indices during a competitive marathon. J Appl Physiol 52 168–172 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:Bi2C2c7otVQ%3D Occurrence Handle7061262
PH Whiting RJ Maughan JDB Miller (1984) ArticleTitleDehydration and serum biochemical changes in marathon runners. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 52 183–187 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL2cXhsFCmsro%3D Occurrence Handle6538834
DA McCarthy MM Dale (1988) ArticleTitleThe leucocytosis of exercise. A review and model. Sports Med 6 333–363 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiaC287mt1Y%3D Occurrence Handle3068772
GR Thompson (1997) ArticleTitleHazards of running a marathon: creatine kinase MB can be raised without myocardial infarction. BMJ 314 1023–1025 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByiB28jltF0%3D Occurrence Handle9112849
AJ Siegel LM Silverman MS Lopez (1980) ArticleTitleCreatine kinase elevations in marathon runners: relationship to training and competition. Yale J Biol Med 53 275–279 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL3MXmt1yhtg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle7445533
HE Solberg (1999) Establishment and use of reference values. CA Burtis ER Ashwood (Eds) Tietz textbook of clinical chemistry. Saunders Philadelphia, PA 336–358
R Grasbeck (1990) ArticleTitleReference values, why and how. Scand J Clin Lab Invest (Suppl) 201 45–53 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By6D2Mjmt1U%3D
EW Holmes (2002) The interpretation of laboratory tests. KD McClatchey (Eds) Clinical laboratory medicine. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Philadelphia, PA 97–121
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Spiropoulos, K., Trakada, G. Hematologic and Biochemical Laboratory Parameters Before and After a Marathon Race . Lung 181, 89–95 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-003-1009-y
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-003-1009-y