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Int J Sports Med 2007; 28(3): 211-216
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-924218
Physiology & Biochemistry

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Monitoring 6 Weeks of Progressive Endurance Training with Plasma Glutamine

S. Kargotich1 , 2 , D. Keast1 , C. Goodman2 , C. I. Bhagat3 , D. J. L. Joske4 , B. Dawson2 , A. R. Morton2
  • 1School of Microbiology, The University of Western Australia, QE II Medical Centre, Nedlands, W. A., Australia
  • 2School of Human Movement and Exercise Science, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, W. A., Australia
  • 3Department of Clinical Haematology, The University of Western Australia, QE II Medical Centre, Nedlands, W. A., Australia
  • 4Department of Clinical Biochemistry, The University of Western Australia, QE II Medical Centre, Nedlands, W. A., Australia
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted after revision: March 30, 2006

Publication Date:
06 October 2006 (online)

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Abstract

The distinction between positive and negative training adaptation is an important prerequisite in the identification of any marker for monitoring training in athletes. To investigate the glutamine responses to progressive endurance training, twenty healthy males were randomly assigned to a training group or a non-exercising control group. The training group performed a progressive (3 to 6 × 90 minute sessions per week at 70 % V·O2max) six-week endurance training programme on a cycle ergometer, while the control group did not participate in any exercise during this period. Performance assessments (V·O2max and time to exhaustion) and resting blood samples (for haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, cortisol, ferritin, creatine kinase, glutamine, uric acid and urea analysis) were obtained prior to the commencement of training (Pre) and at the end of week 2, week 4 and week 6. The training group showed significant improvements in time to exhaustion (p < 0.01), and V·O2max (p < 0.05) at all time points (except week 2 for V·O2max), while the control group performance measures did not change. In the training group, haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit were significantly lower (p < 0.01) than pretraining values at week 2 and 4, as percentage changes in plasma volume indicated a significant (p < 0.01) haemodilution (+ 6 - 9 %) was present at week 2, 4 and 6. No changes were seen in the control group. In the training group, plasma glutamine (week 2, 4 and 6), creatine kinase (week 2 and 4), uric acid (week 2 and 4) and urea (week 2 and 4) all increased significantly from pretraining levels. No changes in cortisol or ferritin were found in the training group and no changes in any blood variables were present in the control group. Plasma glutamine was the only blood variable to remain significantly above pretraining (966 ± 32 µmol · 1-1) levels at week 6 (1176 ± 24 µmol · 1-1; p < 0.05) The elevation seen here in glutamine levels, after 6 weeks of progressive endurance training, is in contrast to previous reports of decreased glutamine concentrations in overtrained athletes. In conclusion, 6 weeks of progressive endurance training steadily increased plasma glutamine levels, which may prove useful in the monitoring of training responses.

Key words

V·O2max - time to exhaustion - plasma volume - creatine kinase

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Associate Professor Brian Dawson

School of Human Movement and Exercise Science
The University of Western Australia

35 Stirling Highway

Crawley, W. A. 6009

Australia

Phone: + 61 8 64 88 22 76

Fax: + 61 8 64 88 10 39

Email: bdawson@cyllene.uwa.edu.au

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