title: Effect of Ultra-marathon (308 km) Race on Bone Metabolism and Cartilage Damage Biomarkers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the potential effects of a 308-km ultra-marathon on bone and cartilage biomarkers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Venous blood samples were collected at pre-race, 100 km, 200 km, and 308 km checkpoints. The following markers of cartilage damage and bone metabolism were studied: osteocalcin (OC), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and calcium, phosphorous, and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blood samples were taken from 20 male runners at four different checkpoints. Serum COMP was increased by 194.1% (130.7% at 100 km and 160.4% at 200 km). Serum OPG was significantly increased by 158.57% at 100 km and 114.1% at 200 km compared to the pre-race measures. OC was transiently suppressed at 200 km. Serum calcium and phosphorous concentrations decreased compared to the pre-race measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that the 308-km ultra-marathon induced several changes, including transient uncoupling of bone metabolism, increased bone resorption, suppressed bone formation, and bone turnover and had a major impact on cartilage structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Bun-dang Je-saeng Hospital, Seongnam 463-824, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Al-Chan
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yoon-Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young-Oh
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Sang-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hee Seung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Taikon
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyoung Seop
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yongbum
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Park