The effect of prolonged aerobic exercise on serum adipokine levels during an ultra-marathon endurance race.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of prolonged intensive aerobic exercise and acute energy deficit (180 km ultra-marathon race) on serum leptin, adiponectin, resistin and visfatin levels and their association and interaction with serum cortisol and insulin levels in highly trained ultra-endurance runners.


METHODS
The study included 17 highly trained ultra-endurance male athletes (mean age 51.29±6.84 years and body mass index (ΒΜΙ) 23.51±1.90) participating in the 5th Olympian Race held in Greece on May 2010. Anthropometric values were assessed; Serum cortisol, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, resistin and visfatin levels were measured at baseline, post-exercise and ~20 hours after the end of the race.


RESULTS
All hormonal values of the post-exercise and recovery status were corrected for plasma volume changes. The estimated energy deficit during the ultra-endurance event was about 5000 Kcal. At the end of the race serum resistin levels were elevated (p<0.001) and serum leptin levels were reduced (p<0.001) and failed to reach pre-exercise levels, although showing a tendency towards restoration. No significant changes were noted in serum adiponectin and visfatin levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultra-endurance aerobic exercise and acute negative energy balance lead to an up-regulation of serum resistin levels and a down-regulation of serum leptin levels.
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece.
Nikolaos D
ND
Roupas
Irene
I
Mamali
Spyros
S
Maragkos
Lydia
L
Leonidou
Anastasia K
AK
Armeni
George K
GK
Markantes
Athanasios
A
Tsekouras
George C
GC
Sakellaropoulos
Kostas B
KB
Markou
Neoklis A
NA
Georgopoulos
D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D015992:Body Mass Index; D031204:Caloric Restriction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D015536:Down-Regulation; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000097:blood; D010807:Physical Endurance; D052243:Resistin / Q000097:blood*; D012420:Running; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D015854:Up-Regulation
C499918:ADIPOQ protein, human; D054392:Adipokines; D052242:Adiponectin; D016207:Cytokines; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; C499624:RETN protein, human; D052243:Resistin; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; C085455:nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, human; D006854:Hydrocortisone