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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
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Publication History

Publication Date:
26 July 2004 (online)

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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

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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