Adiponectin, leptin, cortisol, neuropeptide Y and profile of mood states in athletes participating in an ultramarathon during winter: An observational study.

Background: The Montane® Yukon Arctic Ultra (YAU) is one of the longest (690 km) and coldest (+10.6°C-43.9°C) ultramarathons worldwide. Taking part in an ultramarathon is associated with great physiological and psychological stress, which can affect one's mood, level of hormones, and peptides. The current study aimed to identify relationships between peptides, hormones, and mood states in participants during this ultramarathon. Methods: The study cohort consisted of 36 participants (19 men, 17 women, 38.64 ± 9.12 years) split into a finisher (n = 10), non-finisher (n = 19), and control group (n = 7). Data were collected at four time points: baseline (PRE), during (D1 after 277 km, D2 after 383 km), and after the race (POST). Questionnaires were used to assess ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), total quality of recovery (TQR), and profile of mood states (POMS-SF). Serum NPY, leptin, adiponectin, and cortisol were measured. Results: Among non-finishers, scores for confusion, anger, depression, and tension-anxiety (PRE vs. D2, p < 0.05) increased, while vigor decreased (PRE vs. D1, p < 0.05). In contrast, finishers' tension-anxiety scores decreased (PRE vs. D1, p < 0.05). Fatigue increased in finishers (PRE vs. POST, p < 0.05) and non-finishers (PRE vs. D1, p < 0.05). In non-finishers, depressive mood correlated positively with leptin, anger, and confusion at several time points (p < 0.001). In finishers, NPY correlated with TQR at PRE (p < 0.05), while leptin correlated negatively with TQR at POST (p < 0.05). Tension-anxiety correlated highly with perceived exertion in non-finishers (p < 0.001) and with cortisol in finishers (p < 0.05) and non-finishers (p < 0.001). In finishers, confusion correlated negatively with NPY (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The study reveals an essential interplay between hormones and mood states affecting performance: Leptin was associated with anger and a depressive mood state in non-finishers and worse recovery in finishers. In contrast, NPY appeared linked to a lower confusion score and heightened recovery in finishers. A simultaneous increase in depressed mood, anger, tension-anxiety, and confusion might harm performance and lead to race failure.

Influences on glycocalyx shedding during the Yukon Arctic Ultra: the longest and the coldest ultramarathon.

The endothelial glycocalyx maintains vascular structure and may be subject to shedding during inflammation and also during high-intensive exercise. There are no studies on shedding during ultra-endurance exercise. The "Yukon Arctic Ultra" (YAU) is one of the longest and coldest ultramarathons and its impact on glycocalyx shedding was investigated. Thirteen adults (38.92 ± 8.67 yr, 6 females) of YAU editions 2015-2019 completed 657.03 ± 71.65 km at a moving velocity of 4.17 ± 0.62 km/h. Mean daily temperatures ranged from -12.6°C to -30.5°C. Glycocalyx elements heparan sulfate, hyaluronan, and syndecan CD-138 were quantified from serum at start, 277 km, 383 km, and 690 km. Cortisol, C-reactive protein, creatine kinase, and N-terminal-prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide were also quantified. Seven YAU volunteers (36.14 ± 11.04 yr, 5 females) served as control. There were no time-changes among the control. Among finishers, there was a significant increase for hyaluronan and a significant decrease for syndecan CD-138. Values were greater among female finishers for heparan sulfate at start, 383 km, and 690 km, and among male finishers for hyaluronan at 277 km. Values for syndecan CD-138 were greater among older finishers at all timepoints. There were weak significant correlations (R2 < 0.215) between hyaluronan and distance, creatine kinase, and NT-Pro BNP, respectively. Shedding of glycocalyx elements is shown among participants of the YAU. Greater shedding of heparan sulfate among female, greater increases of hyaluronan among male, and greater shedding of syndecan CD-138 among older athletes indicate complex glycocalyx shedding during ultra-endurance exercise.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first study to investigate changes in glycocalyx elements in an endurance footrace and first study to investigate exercise-induced shedding in both sexes. This study comprised of an athlete group who finished the ultra-long distance of up to 690 km during the Yukon Arctic Ultra as well as a control group. Results indicate relevant and different shedding of glycocalyx elements heparan sulfate, hyaluronan, and syndecan CD-138. Sex, age, BMI, and covered distance appear to have an influence on the shedding. Other serum parameters indicative of stress appear to be associated with shedding.

Physiological Changes, Activity, and Stress During a 100-km-24-h Walking-March.

BACKGROUND: Long-endurance exercises like ultramarathons are known to elicit various metabolic and physiological changes in the human body. However, little is known about very long-duration exercise at low intensities regarding healthy human subjects. AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in body composition and metabolism in long-endurance but low-intensity events. METHODS: Twenty-five male and 18 female healthy recreational athletes (age 34.6 ± 8.8 years; BMI: 22.4 ± 2.0 kg/m2) of the "100 km Mammutmarsch" were recruited for participation during the events in 2014-2016. Other than classical ultramarathons, the "Mammutmarsch" is a hiking event, in which participants were required to walk but not run or jog. It was expected to complete the 100-km distance within 24 h, resulting in a calculated mean speed of 4.17 km/h, which fits to the mean speed observed (4.12 ± 0.76 km/h). As not all participants reached the finish line, comparison of finishers (FIN, n = 11) and non-finishers (NON, n = 21) allowed differential assessment of performance. Body composition measured through bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) was determined pre- and post-event, and serum samples were taken pre-event, at 30, 70, and 100 km to determine NT-pro-BNP, troponin T, C-reactive protein (CRP), cortisol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides, total cholesterol, total creatine kinase (CK), CK-MB, aminotransferase (AST), ALT, and sodium levels. Nineteen participants wore actimeter armbands (SenseWear®) to gain information about body activity and exercise intensity [metabolic equivalent of task (MET)]. Sixteen participants wore mobile heart rate monitors to assess mean heart rate during the race. Serum parameter alterations over the course of the race were analyzed with mixed-effects ANOVA and additional t-tests. All serum parameters were analyzed for correlation concerning different MET levels, speed, age, BMI, baseline NT-pro-BNP, mean heart rate during the race, and sex with linear regression analysis. RESULTS: We found significant elevations for muscle and cardiac stress markers (CRP, CK, CK-MB, AST, ALT, cortisol, and NT-pro-BNP) as well as decreasing markers of lipid metabolism (cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL). Although the intensity level demanded from our participants was low compared with other studies on (ultra-) marathons, the alteration of tested parameters was similar to those of high-intensity exercise, e.g., NT-pro-BNP showed a fourfold increase (p < 0.01) and LDL decreased by 20% (p = 0.05). Besides the duration of exercise, age, BMI, training status, and sex are relevant parameters that influence the elevation of stress factors. Notably, our data indicate that NT-pro-BNP might be a marker for cardiovascular fitness also in healthy adults. CONCLUSION: This low-intensity long-endurance walk evoked a strong systemic reaction and large cell stress and shifted to a favorable lipid profile, comparable to higher intensity events. Despite increasing cardiac stress parameters, there were no indications of cardiac cell damage. Remarkably, the duration seems to have a greater influence on stress markers and metabolism than intensity.