Supervisors info:
Γεώργιος Χρούσος Ομότιμος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Χριστίνα Δαρβιρη Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Φλώρα Μπακοπουλου Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this research is to study the effect of a ultrarmarathon on thyroid hormone levels immune as well as stress levels. At the same time to investigated a possible correlation of the above hormones with stress hormones.
MATERIAL-METHODOLOGY:
Spartathlon is a prolonged and intense race where initially 40 volunteer runners took part.The distance of 246 km and has be covered in less than 36 hours. Finally 30 athletes managed to finish the race within the 36 hours and were able to be included in the measurements of the research. There were 3 different blood sampling moments before the race, immediately after and 48 hours later. In the blood samples, the inflammation indicators such as CRP, SAA were measured through the technique of immunoencephalometry, IL-6 NTproBNP, mannose binding lectin (MBL), troponin, leptin via immunoenzymatic methods, and hormones such as cortisol and thyroid hormones T3, FT3, T4, FT4, TSH with its technique enhanced electro-chemiluminescence.
RESULTS:
CRP, IL-6, SAA, NTproBNP and cortisol showed a
dramatic increase immediately after the race, many times higher than the original
which, however, came into balance after 48 hours in all indicators except for the SAA which increased further. SAA's behavior was similar to mannose binding lectin with continuous increasing tendency. Small fluctuations were observed in thyroid hormones (T3, FT3, T4, FT4, TSH) with initial increase prices, then a downward trend back to the original prices. The only case where after the race the concentration decreased is that
of leptin while troponin concentrations were not detectable.
CONCLUSIONS:
An ultramarathon race can be a very intense stressful event for the body with the hormones reaching in several cases levels above normal. A significant correlation was observed in the way cortisol is altered with CRP, IL-6 and NTproBNP, which reveals the close relationship of endocrine-immune system in extreme situations of exercise such as a Spartathlon.
Keywords:
Exercise, Ultramarathon, Hormones, Thyroid, Immune, Oxidative stress, Overtraining syndrome, Stress
