Upper respiratory tract infection symptoms in ultramarathon runners not related to immunoglobulin status.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the association between variation in exercise load, immunoglobulin (Ig) status, and self-reported symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) in ultramarathon runners.


METHODS
Longitudinal observational field study.


METHODS
Four weeks before and 2 weeks after an 86.5-km Comrades Marathon, South Africa.


METHODS
Fourteen randomly selected, amateur, male, ultramarathon runners.


METHODS
Daily record of training and URTI symptom incidence. Salivary IgA and IgM at 28 days, 14 days, and 1 day (01PRE) before the race, immediately post race (IPR) and 1 (01 PR), 3, and 14 days post race. Serum cortisol, IgG, IgM, and IgA concentrations at 01PRE, IPR, and 01PR.


RESULTS
Mean weekly training distance varied from 89.4 kilometers per week (28.9 kilometers per week) to 4.2 kilometers per week (6.7 kilometers per week). Absolute and relative mucosal IgA and IgM concentrations were unaffected by pre-race taper in training volume (P > 0.05). IgA and IgM secretion rates decreased post race (P = 0.018; 0.008), returning to baseline by 01PR. Blood leukocyte, serum cortisol, and serum IgG concentrations increased at IPR (P < 0.001, <0001) and 01PR (P = 0.009), respectively. Upper respiratory tract infection symptom incidence was highest at 28PRE and 7 to 14 days post race but not related to salivary IgA and IgM secretion rates. Eight subjects (57%) who reported URTI symptoms pre race also reported these during days 7 to 14 post race.


CONCLUSIONS
Upper respiratory tract infection symptom incidence was not associated with secretory Ig concentrations. Reactivation of pre-race viruses during the 2 weeks post race and exercise-induced inflammatory response are proposed as causes of the elevated URTI incidence at 28PRE and 7 to 14 days post race.
Peters
Edith M
EM
Division of Human Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag 7, Congella, Durban 4013, South Africa. futree@kznu.ac.za
Shaik
Junaid
J
Kleinveldt
Neil
N
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology*; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012420:Running; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D006854:Hydrocortisone