The present study examined the relationship between LV (left ventricular) function, markers of cardiac-specific damage and markers of oxidative stress in recreational runners following a marathon. Runners (n=52; 43 male and nine female; age, 35±10 years; height, 1.74±0.08 m; body mass, 75.9±8.9 kg) were assessed pre- and immediately post-marathon. LV function was assessed using standard M-mode two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography and TDI (tissue-Doppler imaging) echocardiography. Serum was analysed for cTnT (cardiac troponin-T), TEAC (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity; a measure of total antioxidant capacity), MDA (malondealdehyde) and 4-HNE (4-hydroxynonenal). A strong relationship was observed between standard and TDI echocardiography for all functional measures. Diastolic function was altered post-marathon characterized by a reduction in E (peak early diastolic filling: 0.79±0.11 compared with 0.64±0.16 cm/s; P<0.001), an increase in A (peak late diastolic filling: 0.48±0.11 compared with 0.60±0.12 cm/s; P<0.001) and a resultant decrease in E/A (ratio of E to A; 1.71±0.48 compared with 1.10±0.31; P<0.001). Ejection fraction remained unchanged post-marathon. Thirty-two runners presented with cTnT values above the lower limit of detection for the assay (0.01 μg/l), and 20 runners presented post-marathon with cTnT values above the acute myocardial infarction cut-off value (0.05 μg/l). No significant correlations were observed between cTnT and any functional measurements. MDA (2.90±1.58 compared with 3.59±1.47 μmol/l) and TEAC (1.80±0.12 compared with 1.89±0.21 mmol/l) were significantly increased post-marathon, but were unrelated to changes in function or cTnT. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated a reduction in diastolic function and widespread evidence of minimal cardiac damage following a marathon in recreational runners. The mechanism(s) underpinning the altered function and appearance of cTnT appear unrelated to reactive oxygen species.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
January 2005
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
- PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
Research Article|
December 15 2004
Impact of marathon running on cardiac structure and function in recreational runners Available to Purchase
Gregory WHYTE;
*Olympic Medical Institute, Northwick Park Hospital, Watford Road, Harrow HA1 3UJ, U.K.
Correspondence: Dr Greg Whyte (email [email protected]).
Search for other works by this author on:
Keith GEORGE;
Keith GEORGE
†Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 2ET, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
Robert SHAVE;
Robert SHAVE
‡Department of Sport Sciences, Brunel University, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
Ellen DAWSON;
Ellen DAWSON
§Department of Anaesthesia, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for other works by this author on:
Claire STEPHENSON;
Claire STEPHENSON
†Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 2ET, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
Ben EDWARDS;
Ben EDWARDS
†Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 2ET, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
David GAZE;
David GAZE
∥Department of Chemical Pathology, St. George's Hospital Medical School, Tooting, London SW17 0RE, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
David OXBOROUGH;
David OXBOROUGH
¶Department of Echocardiography, Nuffield Hospital, Leeds LS1 3EB, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
Jan FORSTER;
Jan FORSTER
**Siemens Ltd, Bracknell, RG12 8FZ, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
Rickie SIMSPON
Rickie SIMSPON
††Department of Sports Science, Napier University, Edinburgh EH10 5DT, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
June 29 2004
Revision Received:
August 18 2004
Accepted:
September 20 2004
Accepted Manuscript online:
September 20 2004
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
The Biochemical Society
2005
Clin Sci (Lond) (2005) 108 (1): 73–80.
Article history
Received:
June 29 2004
Revision Received:
August 18 2004
Accepted:
September 20 2004
Accepted Manuscript online:
September 20 2004
Citation
Gregory WHYTE, Keith GEORGE, Robert SHAVE, Ellen DAWSON, Claire STEPHENSON, Ben EDWARDS, David GAZE, David OXBOROUGH, Jan FORSTER, Rickie SIMSPON; Impact of marathon running on cardiac structure and function in recreational runners. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 January 2005; 108 (1): 73–80. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20040186
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Biochemical Society Member Sign in
Sign InSign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionGet Access To This Article
Open Access for all
We offer compliant routes for all authors from 2025. With library support, there will be no author nor reader charges in 5 journals. Check here |
![]() |