Abstract
Objective. To determine the effect of prolonged endurance exercise on the serum concentrations of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), immunoglobulin E (IgE) and upper respiratory tract symptoms (URTS). Design. In 11 healthy, experienced volunteers (6 males, 5 females, age 43 ± 9.8 years) the serum concentrations of ECP and IgE were measured, 24 hours prior to projected finishing time, immediately post exercise (IPE), and 3 h, 24 h, and 72 h after an ultramarathon (90 km). Self-reported URTS were also recorded for 14 days after the race. ECP was measured using radioimmunoassay and IgE using the Alastat Microplate Total IgE kit. The after-exercise values were corrected for plasma volume changes, which were calculated from haematocrit and haemoglobin values. Serum concentrations of ECP and IgE were analysed using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) comparing values with before-exercise levels. Level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results. ECP was significantly elevated at 72 hours (+52%), whilst IgE was not significantly altered after the ultramarathon. There were no reported URTS for the 14 days after the race. Conclusion. The eosinophil is a pro-inflammatory leukocyte involved in bronchial hyperreactivity and allergic inflammation of the airways. IgE is associated with allergic diseases such as asthma and rhinitis. Serum ECP is a sensitive marker of eosinophil activation. The result provides evidence for the non-allergic activation of blood eosinophils during prolonged endurance exercise. Whether this indicates exercise or environmentally induced airway inflammation, or a role for ECP in muscle /tissue repair, are hypotheses that require additional research. SA Sports Medicine Vol.16(2) 2004: 12-16
Highlights
There were no reports of upper respiratory tract symptoms (URTS) in the 2 weeks prior to or after the ultramarathon
The present study investigated the effects of an ultramarathon on immune parameters, which could be associated with postexercise URTS
Submitted data from the present study have shown that the same ultramarathon caused an acute phase response (APR) and an increase in complement,[38] and this may have played a role in the non-allergic activation of eosinophils
Summary
Eleven experienced runners (6 males, 5 females) from local running clubs and who had entered the 2002, 90 km Comrades ultramarathon, volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects who reported that they smoked or suffered from asthma, allergic rhinitis, respiratory disease or had an URTI in the week leading up to the ultramarathon were excluded. The protocol was approved by the Tshwane Institute of Technology Ethics Committee, and informed consent was obtained from each subject. Subjects were asked to abstain from the use of anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine medication. The use of multivitamins and anti-oxidants was not controlled. The subjects recorded their dietary and supplement intake for 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after the Comrades to help control for the possible effect of multivitamin and anti-oxidant intake on results
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