Gut Leakage and Cardiac Biomarkers after Prolonged Strenuous Exercise

Purpose Transient increase in the cardiac biomarkers troponin T (cTnT) and NT-proBNP are observed during strenuous exercise, even in healthy athletes. Gut leakage, the translocation of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the circulation, is associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease but has also been reported after prolonged endurance exercise. We aimed to explore the link between exercise-induced gut leakage and cardiac biomarker release. Methods Participants in Norseman Xtreme Triathlon (Norseman) were included (n = 44, age 43 ± 9 yr, 9 [21%] women). Blood samples were taken before and immediately after the race for the determination of biomarkers. cTnT and NT-proBNP were measured by conventional methods. Gut leakage marker LPS was measured by the kinetic, chromogenic limulus amebocyte lysate assay method, whereas LPS-binding protein (LBP), soluble cluster of differentiation 14 (sCD14), and intestinal injury marker intestinal fatty acid–binding protein (I-FABP) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Median (25, 75 percentiles) finish time was 14 h 33 min (13 h 42 min, 15 h 29 min). TnT and NT-proBNP increased significantly to 38 ng·L−1 (27, 56) and 495 ng·L−1 (310, 828) after the race (P
Source: Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise - Category: Sports Medicine Tags: BASIC SCIENCES Source Type: research