Gut leakage and cardiac biomarkers after prolonged strenuous exercise in highly trained endurance athletes

Abstract

Background and Aims : Transient increase in the cardiac biomarkers Troponin T (TnT) and NT-proBNP are observed during strenuous exercise, even in healthy athletes. Gut leakage, the translocation of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the circulation, is associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, but has also been reported after prolonged endurance exercise. We aimed to explore the link between exercise-induced gut leakage and cardiac biomarker release.