THE EFFECT OF LIFE‐LONG ENDURANCE EXERCISE ON COLLAGEN CROSS‐LINKING OF THE HUMAN PATELLAR TENDON

Abstract

IntroductionIt remains unknown if life‐long habitual endurance exercise influences the accumulation of Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGE) cross‐links that are closely associated with aging and disease in connective tissue.PurposeTo examine the effect of aging and life‐long habitual endurance exercise on the collagen cross‐linking of the human patellar tendon.MethodsWe investigated 13 healthy injury free master athletes (old trained men, OT; age 59–75 years, running distance of 49±3 km/wk over 29±3 yrs (mean±SEM)), 12 old untrained controls (OC; matched to OT for BMI and age) and 10 young men matched for current running distance (young trained,YT; age 21–34, 48±4 km/week) and 12 young untrained controls (YC; matched to YT for BMI and age). Percutaneous tendon biopsies were obtained and analyzed for enzymatic (HP&LP) cross‐links, pentosidine, and collagen concent from the patellar tendon. A 2‐way ANOVA was used for statistical analysis.ResultsPentosidine increased with age (P<0.001)(Pentosidine: OT, 39±4; OC, 48±3; YT, 11±2 and YC, 9±1 mmol/mol collagen). There was an interaction between age and training (P=0.019), such that master athletes (OT) had a lower tendon pentosidine than OC (P = 0.006).ConclusionThese are the first data to demonstrate AGE cross‐links in tendon in male master athletes are lower compared to old untrained controls. The results suggest that life‐long habitual endurance exercise can counteract the aging process in tendon and thereby possibly reducing the risk of injury. Research support: Danish Association of Rheumatism.