Author(s): LOOTS, D., STANDER, Z., MASON, S., KEANE, K., HOWATSON, G., CLIFFORD, T., STEVENSON, E., BESTER, R., Institution: NORTH-WEST UNIVERSITY, Country: SOUTH AFRICA, Abstract-ID: 341

INTRODUCTION:
Although physical activity is a health-promoting, popular global pastime, regular participation in extreme endurance events results in numerous adverse metabolic, immunologic and physiological perturbations, that may diminish athletic performance and adversely affect the overall health status of an athlete, especially in the absence of sufficient recovery. A comprehensive understanding of the metabolic changes occurring during and following extreme endurance events can inform the development of improved training and recovery strategies.
METHODS:
This investigation employed an untargeted proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) metabolomics approach to characterise the changing serum metabolite profiles of 15 athletes at 4 time points (pre-, immediately post-, 24 h post-, and 48 h post-marathon), to better understand the impact of a marathon on the metabolome and the physiology of an athlete.
RESULTS:
The results show 26 metabolites to significantly fluctuate, indicating dramatic changes to ATP and glycogen use and synthesis, fat catabolism, aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis, ketogenesis, amino acid catabolism (in particular the BCAAs) and the TCA cycle, in response to the high energy demands of a marathon. Metabolites associated with muscle and kidney damage, changes to the gut microbiota and the impact of energy drink consumption were also observed, in addition to metabolite markers associated with delayed-onset muscle soreness during the recovery period. Although a complete recovery of those metabolites associated with the energy-producing pathways and fuel substrate stores occurred within a 48-hour recovery period, several other metabolites remained perturbed beyond this period (phenylalanine, tyrosine, BCAAs and proline), indicating incomplete recovery of other physiological processes.
CONCLUSION:
This study provides a comprehensive description of the marathon-induced metabolic changes and post marathon recovery and additionally suggests pre- and post-marathon nutrition and supplementation strategies (involving fats/ketones, the type of carbohydrate, phenylalanine, tyrosine, BCAAs and proline) for improving the health and performance of athletes who participate in such extreme endurance events. Furthermore, the “late-stage recovery” metabolite markers identified may also later be investigated for personalized monitoring of athletic health/recovery/performance.