Immune And Inflammatory Responses And Exercise Performance During 135 Miles Mountain Foot Race

Abstract

Pronounced increases in white blood cells and C-reactive protein (CRP) have been found after ultramarathon races, however, their relationships with exercise performance are unclear. PURPOSE: Verify the relationship between immune and inflammatory responses and exercise performance during 135 miles race METHODS: It was studied 11 athletes (43±3 years; 170.4±1.9 cm height; 70.7±3.1 kg body weight; 16±3 years of race training; 122±18km/week of training volume) that participated of the "BAD 135 World Cup" mountain race called "Brazil 135 Ultramarathon". One week before the competition and in subsequent days, the athletes individually determined the critical velocity (CV) from 4 maximal running of 800, 1200, 1600, 2000m. So, the CV was determined by the angular coefficient of the linear fit of distance versus running time. Race and pause time were obtained by official race reports. Blood samples were collected pre and post race for determination of blood counts with five-part leucocyte differential (neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils) by automated haematology analyser and CRP by an auto-analyzer. All data were expressed by mean ± SEM, t Student test for dependent sample was used to comparisons and Pearson`s correlation coefficient was used for analyzing relationships (statistical significance P<0.05). RESULTS: The subjects completed the race in 46.6±3.1h, speed average of 3.1±0.2 mph, corresponding to 34.5±1.9% of CV and total pause time of 3.7±0.9 h. Leucocyte (123±23%) neutrophils (170±70%), monocytes (122±16%), basophils (-51±19%) and CRP (35,467±18,376%) changed significantly (P<0.05) from baseline to post race. Leucocyte and neutrophils levels at 135 miles were positively correlated (P<0.05) with absolute running velocity (r=0.70; 0.76, respectively) and running velocity relative to CV (r=0.92; 0.96, respectively) as well as inversely correlated (P<0.05) with race time (r= -0.75; - 0.80, respectively) and pause time (r= -0.66; -0.69, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These data strengthen that the immune and inflammatory responses are elevated post race as well as they show that higher running intensity and lower race and pause time may be related to greater white blood cells levels in 135 miles ultramarathon mountain race. Supported by Capes, CNPq and FAPESP/BRAZIL.