Metabolomics reveals that fittest trail runners show a better adaptation of bioenergetic pathways

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2021Author
Fernàndez, Anna
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Puigarnau Coma, Sílvia;
Fernàndez, Anna;
Obis Monné, Èlia;
Jové Font, Mariona;
Castañer Balcells, Marta;
Pamplona Gras, Reinald;
...
Camerino Foguet, Oleguer.
(2021)
.
Metabolomics reveals that fittest trail runners show a better adaptation of bioenergetic pathways.
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 2021 In Press.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2021.12.006.
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Objectives: To analyze the effect in the blood metabolome of trail running, a demanding sport that takes place in
the natural environment, places considerable strain on both muscles and joints. While metabolic responses to
aerobic exercise have been analyzed in-depth, few studies have focused on trail running.
Design: Observational study to analyze changes in 35 different metabolites - representative of aerobic exercise-
induced by a simulated 21-km trail race with an uphill gradient of 1400 m.
Methods: We performed a semiquantitative metabolomics study consisting of capillary blood microsampling and
targeted screening with liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to analyze, in 33 licensed athletes,
changes concerning 35 metabolites.
Results: We observed significant changes in many metabolites, including increased acetyl-carnitine and taurine
concentrations (false discovery rate–corrected paired t-test P value 1.63 × 10–13, and P value 5.021 × 10-12, re-
spectively) and decreased carnitine and proline concentrations (P value 6.33 × 10–10, and P value 1.21 × 10–9, re-
spectively). Metabolic responses to trail running were largely independent of sex but were influenced by the
level of training, with runners with a higher level showing resistance to exercise-induced changes in taurine,
1-methyl histidine, acetyl-carnitine, and hypoxanthine concentrations. Performance (measured as race time)
was inversely correlated with changes in specific metabolites (including taurine, serotonin, and hypoxanthine)
and directly correlated with increases in glutathione.
Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate the usefulness of metabolomics studies for analyzing exercise-induced
physiological changes and show individual differences associated with the level of training and performance.
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