Journal Article
The influence of prolonged aerobic exercise on cardiac, muscular, and renal biomarkers in trained individuals with obesity
M. D’Alleva; J. M. Sanz; N. Giovanelli; F. Graniero; L. Mari; R. Spaggiari; D. Sergi; S. Ghisellini; A. Passaro; S. Lazzer
European Journal of Applied Physiology · Vol. 125, Issue 5 · pp. 1485-1500 · 2025
Abstract
Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of prolonged aerobic exercise on cardiac, muscular and renal inflammatory markers in a group of trained obese men. Methods Seventeen men (aged 40 ± 6 years; body mass index [BMI] 31.3 ± 2.8 kg m −2 , maximal oxygen uptake [V’O 2 max] 41.5 ± 5.6 ml kg −1 min −1 ) ran a half, 30 km, or full marathon. Troponin I (cTnI), the n-terminal creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB), pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), myoglobin, creatinine (CREA) and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were measured before (T0), immediately after (T1) and 3 days after the race (T2). Results The concentrations of cTnI, myoglobin, LDH, CK-MB and CREA significantly increased ( P < 0.05), whereas eGRF decreased at T1 ( P < 0.05). All the above parameters returned to baseline at T2, except for eGFR, which remained lower than that at T0 ( P < 0.05). A positive association was observed between ΔCK-MB (%) and the time spent in Zone 3 during the race ( R = 0.686, P = 0.014). The Δmyoglobin (%) was positively correlated with race time, race mean speed and time in Zone 3 ( R = 0.574–0.862, P < 0.05). The ∆CREA values were moderately correlated with the race mean HR MAX (%) and time spent in Zone 3 (%) ( R = 0.514–0.610; P = 0.05). The ∆eGRF values were moderately inversely correlated with the time spent in Zone 3 (%) ( R = – 0.627; P < 0.05). Conclusion Changes in cardiac, muscular and renal inflammatory markers in trained men with obesity are consistent with those described in the literature in normal-weight individuals. Finally, running parameters, such as running time, average running intensity and time in Zone 3 appear to be responsible for the changes in cardiac, muscular and renal function markers after long-distance running.