Morphological, functional and biochemical differences in cardiac adaptation to endurance exercise among male and female amateur marathon runners
IntroductionSport is known to have beneficial influence on cardiovascular system. However, activities of high intensity such as marathon running may adversely affect cardiac morphology and function, especially in the heterogenous group of amateur athletes. As males and females exhibit discrepancies...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1547894/full |
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| author | Zofia Lasocka-Koriat Zofia Lasocka-Koriat Zuzanna Lewicka-Potocka Zuzanna Lewicka-Potocka Anna Kaleta-Duss Nikola Bulman Ewelina Marciniak Leszek Kalinowski Leszek Kalinowski Ewa Lewicka Alicja Dąbrowska-Kugacka |
| author_facet | Zofia Lasocka-Koriat Zofia Lasocka-Koriat Zuzanna Lewicka-Potocka Zuzanna Lewicka-Potocka Anna Kaleta-Duss Nikola Bulman Ewelina Marciniak Leszek Kalinowski Leszek Kalinowski Ewa Lewicka Alicja Dąbrowska-Kugacka |
| author_sort | Zofia Lasocka-Koriat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionSport is known to have beneficial influence on cardiovascular system. However, activities of high intensity such as marathon running may adversely affect cardiac morphology and function, especially in the heterogenous group of amateur athletes. As males and females exhibit discrepancies in cardiac response to training, we aimed to compare exercise-induced myocardial alterations between sexes among 61 amateur marathon runners, with the use of evolving echocardiographic techniques and cardiac biomarkers.MethodsThe study followed three stages: 2–3 weeks prior the marathon (Stage 1), at the finish line (Stage 2) and 2 weeks after the run (Stage 3). Echocardiographic examination along with blood analyses for biomarkers of cardiac injury and overload [creatine kinase, high sensitivity cardiac troponin I, heart-type fatty acid binding protein, B-type natriuretic peptide, galectin-3 (Gal-3), endothelin-1 (ET-1), interleukin-6 and neopterin] were performed at each stage.ResultsAfter the marathon there was a transient increase in right ventricular (RV) size and concomitant decrease in left ventricular (LV) volumes, leading to a significant increase of RV end-diastolic volume (RVEDV)/LVEDV ratio (0.91 ± 0.21 vs. 1.10 ± 0.22, p < 0.001 in males; 0.73 ± 0.17 vs. 1.02 ± 0.22, p < 0.001 in females). Although at Stage 2 RV contractility decreased, while LV ejection fraction (LVEF) remained at the same level in both sexes, men had greater tendency for LVEF reduction (p < 0.05 for the interaction sex and stage). The concentrations of biomarkers were higher after the run in both study groups, except for ET-1 and neopterin, which increased post-race only in males. The larger training-related rise in Gal-3 level correlated with the greater drop in LVEF at Stage 2 (r = −0.42; p < 0.05). Less-trained marathoners with lower VO2max values after the race showed higher levels of Gal-3 post-run (r = −0.29; p < 0.05).ConclusionMarathon running induces transient cardiac remodelling, more pronounced in male than female athletes. Structural and functional changes assessed by echocardiography correspond with biochemical alterations. Galectin-3 was the best biomarker to reflect overload changes. Cardiovascular screening in amateur runners should be implemented to identify subjects requiring further evaluation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-835bf4b1da044db89c34b5ee18937094 |
| institution | DOAJ |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-835bf4b1da044db89c34b5ee189370942025-08-20T03:15:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2025-03-011610.3389/fphys.2025.15478941547894Morphological, functional and biochemical differences in cardiac adaptation to endurance exercise among male and female amateur marathon runnersZofia Lasocka-Koriat0Zofia Lasocka-Koriat1Zuzanna Lewicka-Potocka2Zuzanna Lewicka-Potocka3Anna Kaleta-Duss4Nikola Bulman5Ewelina Marciniak6Leszek Kalinowski7Leszek Kalinowski8Ewa Lewicka9Alicja Dąbrowska-Kugacka10Department of Cardiology and Electrotherapy, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, PolandFirst Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, PolandDepartment of Cardiology and Electrotherapy, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, PolandFirst Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, PolandInstitute for Radiology, Cantonal Hospital Aarau, Aarau, SwitzerlandDepartment of Medical Laboratory Diagnostics—Fahrenheit Biobank BBMRI.pl, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, PolandDepartment of Medical Laboratory Diagnostics—Fahrenheit Biobank BBMRI.pl, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, PolandDepartment of Medical Laboratory Diagnostics—Fahrenheit Biobank BBMRI.pl, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, PolandDepartment of Mechanics of Materials and Structures, BioTechMed Centre, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, PolandDepartment of Cardiology and Electrotherapy, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, PolandDepartment of Cardiology and Electrotherapy, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, PolandIntroductionSport is known to have beneficial influence on cardiovascular system. However, activities of high intensity such as marathon running may adversely affect cardiac morphology and function, especially in the heterogenous group of amateur athletes. As males and females exhibit discrepancies in cardiac response to training, we aimed to compare exercise-induced myocardial alterations between sexes among 61 amateur marathon runners, with the use of evolving echocardiographic techniques and cardiac biomarkers.MethodsThe study followed three stages: 2–3 weeks prior the marathon (Stage 1), at the finish line (Stage 2) and 2 weeks after the run (Stage 3). Echocardiographic examination along with blood analyses for biomarkers of cardiac injury and overload [creatine kinase, high sensitivity cardiac troponin I, heart-type fatty acid binding protein, B-type natriuretic peptide, galectin-3 (Gal-3), endothelin-1 (ET-1), interleukin-6 and neopterin] were performed at each stage.ResultsAfter the marathon there was a transient increase in right ventricular (RV) size and concomitant decrease in left ventricular (LV) volumes, leading to a significant increase of RV end-diastolic volume (RVEDV)/LVEDV ratio (0.91 ± 0.21 vs. 1.10 ± 0.22, p < 0.001 in males; 0.73 ± 0.17 vs. 1.02 ± 0.22, p < 0.001 in females). Although at Stage 2 RV contractility decreased, while LV ejection fraction (LVEF) remained at the same level in both sexes, men had greater tendency for LVEF reduction (p < 0.05 for the interaction sex and stage). The concentrations of biomarkers were higher after the run in both study groups, except for ET-1 and neopterin, which increased post-race only in males. The larger training-related rise in Gal-3 level correlated with the greater drop in LVEF at Stage 2 (r = −0.42; p < 0.05). Less-trained marathoners with lower VO2max values after the race showed higher levels of Gal-3 post-run (r = −0.29; p < 0.05).ConclusionMarathon running induces transient cardiac remodelling, more pronounced in male than female athletes. Structural and functional changes assessed by echocardiography correspond with biochemical alterations. Galectin-3 was the best biomarker to reflect overload changes. Cardiovascular screening in amateur runners should be implemented to identify subjects requiring further evaluation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1547894/fullsports cardiologyamateur athletesechocardiographycardiac biomarkerssex-related remodelling |
| spellingShingle | Zofia Lasocka-Koriat Zofia Lasocka-Koriat Zuzanna Lewicka-Potocka Zuzanna Lewicka-Potocka Anna Kaleta-Duss Nikola Bulman Ewelina Marciniak Leszek Kalinowski Leszek Kalinowski Ewa Lewicka Alicja Dąbrowska-Kugacka Morphological, functional and biochemical differences in cardiac adaptation to endurance exercise among male and female amateur marathon runners Frontiers in Physiology sports cardiology amateur athletes echocardiography cardiac biomarkers sex-related remodelling |
| title | Morphological, functional and biochemical differences in cardiac adaptation to endurance exercise among male and female amateur marathon runners |
| title_full | Morphological, functional and biochemical differences in cardiac adaptation to endurance exercise among male and female amateur marathon runners |
| title_fullStr | Morphological, functional and biochemical differences in cardiac adaptation to endurance exercise among male and female amateur marathon runners |
| title_full_unstemmed | Morphological, functional and biochemical differences in cardiac adaptation to endurance exercise among male and female amateur marathon runners |
| title_short | Morphological, functional and biochemical differences in cardiac adaptation to endurance exercise among male and female amateur marathon runners |
| title_sort | morphological functional and biochemical differences in cardiac adaptation to endurance exercise among male and female amateur marathon runners |
| topic | sports cardiology amateur athletes echocardiography cardiac biomarkers sex-related remodelling |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1547894/full |
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