Moir, H.J., Howe, C.C.F., Alsheheri, A., Muggeridge, D., Mullen, A.B., Boyd, M., Spendiff, O. and Watson, D.G. (2018) Novel use of untargetted metabolomic profiling of treadmill ultramarathon running. In: 23rd Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science; 04 - 07 Jul 2018, Dublin Ireland. (Unpublished)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The rising popularity of ultramarathon running over the past few years has seen non-professional runners striving for bigger and tougher extreme physical challenges. Understanding the effects of ultramarathon events and the ultramarathon runners profile provides a unique model to investigate the physiological responses to prolonged physical exertion. The current study determined the metabolic changes induced by extreme exercise through ultra-marathon running in order gain an insight into how metabolism is adapted for endurance performance. Plasma samples were analysed for their metabolomic profiles to determine the metabolic changes. The aim of the current study was to analyse the change in metabolic profile of trained ultramarathon runners in response to an 80.5km simulated treadmill ultramarathon. METHODS: Metabolomic profiling of nine trained male ultramarathon runners was performed in response to an 80.5km self-paced treadmill-based time trial performed in a controlled laboratory environment. Plasma samples were obtained from venous whole blood, collected at rest, half-way (40.25km) and on completion of 80.5km (post-80.5km). Samples were analysed by high resolution mass spectrometry in combination with both hydrophilic interaction (HILIC) and reversed phase (RP) chromatography. The extracted putatively identified features were modelled using Simca P 14.1 software. RESULTS: The runners completed the distance in 09:00:18±01:14:07 (hh:mm:ss), at a running velocity of 9.8±1.3 km.h-1. The exercise induced a large number of metabolic changes with multiple amino acids decreasing in abundance while there were increases in the levels of a number of acylcarnitines, fatty acids and oxidised fatty acids. There were no significant differences observed between the halfway (40.25km) and post-80.5km samples (p>0.05). A large number of amino acids decreased and fatty acid metabolism was affected with an increase in the formation of medium-chain unsaturated and partially oxidised fatty acids and conjugates of fatty acids with carnitines. CONCLUSION: A marked elevation in acylcarnitine levels suggests a source of energy for export into the musculoskeletal mitochondria. The fall in the amino acids used in protein biosynthesis may be due to an increase in protein biosynthesis during exercise. Elevation of oxidised fatty acids may be associated with potent effects on blood vessels promoting either vasodilation or vasoconstriction or as markers of oxidative stress. The pattern of fatty acids and carnitines observed in the current study suggests a large increase in peroxisomal metabolism providing acetyl carnitine as a fuel source. This is the first study to provide evidence of the metabolic profile in response to prolonged ultramarathon running using an untargeted approach. The findings provide an insight into the effects of ultramarathon running on the metabolic specificities and alterations that may demonstrate cardio-protective effects.

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