Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2005; 26(1/02): 2-8
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-815717
Physiology & Biochemistry

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Renal Function and Plasma Volume Following Ultramarathon Cycling

G. Neumayr1 , R. Pfister1 , H. Hoertnagl1 , G. Mitterbauer1 , W. Prokop2 , M. Joannidis3
  • 1Institute of Sports Medicine, University Clinics of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
  • 2Central Institute of Laboratory Diagnostics, University Clinics of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
  • 3Department of Internal Medicine, University Clinics of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
26 July 2004 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

In recreational cyclists marathon cycling influences renal function only on a minimal scale. Respective information on extreme ultramarathon cycling in better trained athletes is not available. The objective was to evaluate the renal and haematological effects of ultraendurance cycling in the world's best ultramarathon cyclists. Creatinine (CR), urea, haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (Hct) and plasma volume (PV) were investigated in 16 male ultramarathon cyclists during the 1st Race Across the Alps in 2001 (distance: 525 km; cumulative altitude difference: 12600 m). All renal functional parameters were normal pre-exercise. During the race serum CR, urea and uric acid rose significantly by 33, 97 % and 18 % (p < 0.001 respectively) and nearly normalised again on the following day. The decline in calculated CR clearance was 25 %. There was a negative correlation (r = - 0.575, p = 0.02) between the rise in serum CR and the athlete's training kilometers. The serum urea/CR ratio rose above 40 in 12 athletes (75 %). Mean fractional sodium excretion and fractional uric acid excretion fell below 0.5 % (p < 0.001) and 7 %, indicating reduced renal perfusion. The deflection of the renal functional parameters was temporary and nearly gone after 24 hours of recovery. Hct declined during the race from 0.44 to 0.42, and continued falling on the next day (0.42 → 0.40; p < 0.001). The corresponding rises in calculated PV were + 8 % and + 22 %. The study affirms that in world class cyclists the enormous strains of ultramarathon cycling influence renal function only on a minimal scale. The impact on the PV, however, is pronounced leading to marked haemodilution post-exercise. This very temporary “impairment of renal function” seems to be the physiological response to ultramarathon cycling and may be attenuated to some extent by preceding high-volume training.

Key words

Ultramarathon cycling - renal function - renal blood flow - plasma volume expansion - haematocrit

References

  • 1 Altenkirch H U, Gerzer R, Kirsch K A, Weil J, Heyduck B, Schultes I, Rocker L. Effect of prolonged physical exercise on fluid regulating hormones.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1990;  61 209-213
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Armstrong R B. Muscle damage and endurance events.  Sports Med. 1986;  3 370-381
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Castenfors J, Mossfeldt F, Piscator M. Effect of prolonged heavy exercise on renal function and urinary protein excretion.  Acta Physiol Scand. 1967;  70 194-206
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Costill D L. Sweating: its composition and effects on body fluids.  Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1977;  301 160-74
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Dancaster C P, Duckworth W C, Roper C J. Nephropathy in marathon runners.  S Afr Med J. 1969;  43 758-759
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Dancaster C P, Whereat S J. Renal function in marathon runners.  S Afr Med J. 1971;  45 547-551
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Decombaz J, Reinhardt P, Anantharaman K, Von Glutz G, Poortmans J R. Biochemical changes in a 100 km run: free amino acids, urea, and creatinine.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1979;  41 61-72
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Fallon K E, Sivyer G, Sivyer K, Dare A. The biochemistry of runners in a 1600 km ultramarathon.  Br J Sports Med. 1999;  33 264-269
    Google Scholar
  • 9 Gault M H, Longerich L L, Harnett J D, Wesolowski C. Predicting glomerular function from adjusted serum creatinine (editorial).  Nephron. 1992;  62 249-256
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Green H J, Fraser I G. Differential effects of exercise intensity on serum uric acid concentration.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1988;  20 55-59
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Irving R A, Noakes T D, Burger S C, Myburgh K H, Querido D, Van Zyl S R. Plasma volume and renal function during and after ultramarathon running (see comments).  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1990;  22 581-587
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Irving R A, Noakes T D, Irving G A, Van Zyl S R. The immediate and delayed effects of marathon running on renal function.  J Urol. 1986;  136 1176-1180
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Irving R A, Noakes T D, Raine R I, Van Zyl S R. Transient oliguria with renal tubular dysfunction after a 90 km running race.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1990;  22 756-761
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Kreider R B. Physiological considerations of ultraendurance performance.  Int J Sport Nutr. 1991;  1 3-27
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 MacSearraigh E TM, Kallmeyer J, Schiff H B. Acute renal failure in marathon runners.  Nephron. 1979;  24 236-240
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Millard R W, Higgins C B, Franklin D, Vatner S F. Regulation of the renal circulation during severe exercise in normal dogs and dogs with experimental heart failure.  Circ Res. 1972;  31 881-888
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Neviackas J A, Bauer J H. Renal function abnormalities induced by marathon running.  South Med J. 1981;  74 1457-1460
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Neumayr G, Pfister R, Hoertnagl H, Mitterbauer G, Getzner W, Ulmer H, Gaenzer H, Joannidis M. The effect of marathon cycling on renal function.  Int J Sports Med. 2003;  24 131-137
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Neumayr G, Pfister R, Mitterbauer G, Gaenzer H, Joannidis M, Eibl G, Hoertnagl H. Short-term effects of prolonged strenuous endurance exercise on the level of haematocrit in amateur cyclists.  Int J Sports Med. 2002;  23 158-161
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Neumayr G, Pfister R, Mitterbauer G, Maurer A, Hoertnagl H. The effect of ultramarathon cycling on the heart rate in elite cyclists.  Br J Sports Med. 2004;  38 55-59
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Ounpuu S. The biomechanics of running: a kinematic and kinetic analysis.  Instr Course Lect. 1990;  39 305-318
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Poortmans J R. Exercise and renal function.  Sports Med. 1984;  1 125-153
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Refsum H E, Stromme S B. Relationship between urine flow, glomerular filtration, and urine solute concentrations during prolonged heavy exercise.  Scand J Clin Lab Invest. 1975;  35 775-780
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Refsum H E, Stromme S B. Renal osmol clearance during prolonged heavy exercise. Scand.  J Clin Lab Invest. 1978;  38 19-22
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Steiner R W. Interpreting the fractional excretion of sodium.  Am J Med. 1984;  77 699-702
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Strauss M B, Davies R K, Rosenbaum J D, Rossmeisl E C. Water diuresis produced during recumbency by the intravenous infusion of isotonic saline solution.  J Clin Invest. 1951;  30 862-868
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Suzuki M, Sudoh M, Matsubara S, Kawakami K, Shiota M, Ikawa S. Changes in renal blood flow measured by radionuclide angiography following exhausting exercise in humans.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1996;  74 1-7
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Virvidakis C, Loukas A, Mayopoulou-Symvoulidou M, Mountokalakis T. Renal responses to bicycle exercise in trained athletes: influence of exercise intensity.  Int J Sports Med. 1986;  7 86-88
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 West M L, Marsden P A, Richardson R M, Zettle R M, Halperin M L. New clinical approach to evaluate disorders of potassium excretion.  Miner Electrolyte Metab. 1986;  12 234-238
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Williams K R. The relationship between mechanical and physiological energy estimates.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1985;  17 317-325
    PubMedGoogle Scholar

M. D. G. Neumayr

Institute of Sports Medicine, University Clinics of Innsbruck

Anichstraße 35

6020 Innsbruck

Austria

Phone: + 390474917111

Fax: + 39 04 74 91 71 71

Email: guenther.neumayr@sb-bruneck.it

      >