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Ultra-endurance triathlon performance and markers of whole-body and gut-specific inflammation

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To examine the influence of the Ultraman Florida triathlon (3 days of non-continuous racing; stage 1: 10 km swim and 144.8 km cycle; stage 2: 275.4 km cycle; stage 3: 84.4 km run) on circulating plasma concentrations of whole-body (C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6 (IL-6), and IL-10 and surrogate gut-specific inflammatory markers (IL-17 and IL-23), and determine whether these variables are associated with performance.

Methods

Eighteen triathletes (N = 18; 15 men, 3 women; age: 37 ± 8 yrs) were evaluated at baseline and post-race for circulating concentrations of CRP, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and IL-23. Blood samples were drawn two days prior to stage 1 (1600 h) and one day after stage 3 (1200 h).

Results

Plasma CRP significantly increased from baseline (1985.8 ± 5962.3 ng/mL) to post-race (27,013.9 ± 12,888.8 ng/mL, p < 0.001, 13-fold increase). Both plasma IL-6 and IL-10 did not significantly change from baseline to post-race. Baseline and post-race concentrations of IL-17 and IL-23 were below detectable limits. Pearson’s correlation between mean finish time and post-race IL-10 revealed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.54, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-10 involved in the inflammatory response return to near-baseline concentrations rapidly even after ultra-endurance events of extreme duration. The absence of IL-17 and IL-23 may suggest positive gut adaptations from ultra-endurance training. A significant positive correlation between post-race IL-10 concentrations and mean finish time may indicate that a relationship between anti-inflammatory responses and performance exists.

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Abbreviations

CRP:

C-reactive protein

IL-6:

Interleukin-6

IL-10:

Interleukin-10

IL-17:

Interleukin-17

IL-23:

Interleukin-23

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Sports Sciences and Medicine, Department of Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences, Florida State University, 1104 Spirit Way, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA

    Kyle A. Smith, Jacob N. Kisiolek, Brandon D. Willingham, Samantha M. Leyh, Patrick G. Saracino & Michael J. Ormsbee

  2. Department of Kinesiology, Korey Stringer Institute, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA

    Margaret C. Morrissey

  3. Department of Physical Education, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA, USA

    Daniel A. Baur

  4. Department of Human Performance and Leisure Studies, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC, USA

    Marc D. Cook

  5. Discipline of Biokinetics, Exercise and Leisure Sciences, University of KawaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

    Michael J. Ormsbee

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  1. Kyle A. Smith
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Contributions

KAS, JNK, BDW, MCM, SML, PGS, DAB, and MJO designed the study, carried out data collection, and manuscript preparation. MJO oversaw all aspects of the study. MDC analyzed gut-specific inflammatory markers and contributed to manuscript preparation.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael J. Ormsbee.

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Conflict of interest

This work was supported by the Florida State University Institute of Sports Sciences and Medicine. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Communicated by Fabio Fischetti.

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Smith, K.A., Kisiolek, J.N., Willingham, B.D. et al. Ultra-endurance triathlon performance and markers of whole-body and gut-specific inflammation. Eur J Appl Physiol 120, 349–357 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04279-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04279-3

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