Korean J Sports Med.  2020 Jun;38(2):78-84. 10.5763/kjsm.2020.38.2.78.

Comparison of Changes in Glucose and Lipid Parameters Associated with Three Types of Long-Distance Running

• Shin KA
• Kim YJ

• KMID: 2502519
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5763/kjsm.2020.38.2.78

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to evaluate biochemical markers of blood glucose and blood lipids associated with extreme long-distance running races (marathon, 100 km, 308 km).
Methods
The participants were 45 middle-aged male runners: 15 corresponding to each distance. All participants performed graded exercise tests before the races. Blood glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were analyzed by blood collection before and after the races to identify differences between the groups and before and after the races.
Results
No differences were found in blood glucose levels before and after all races, as well as between the groups. TC levels decreased only after the 308-km race, and this decrease was lower than the differences after the marathon and 100-km races. TG levels decreased after all three races and were lower after the 100-km and 308-km races than that after the marathon race. HDL-C levels showed no differences after the marathon race but increased after the 100-km and 308-km races, with higher levels after the 308-km race than those after the marathon and 100-km races. LDL-C levels increased after the marathon race, but decreased after the 308-km race, with lower levels after the 308-km race than those after the marathon and 100-km races.
Conclusion
The 308-km race was associated with decreases in TC, TG, and LDL-C levels and an increase in HDL-C levels, indicating that exercise time may have a positive effect on lipid metabolism rather than exercise intensity.

Keyword

Glucose; Lipid; Running

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Comparison of pre- and post-race glucose level difference by distance.

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  Fig. 2 Comparison of pre and post total cholesterol (TC) level difference by distance. Long-distance differences for the before and after difference in TC are shown in marathon (−0.2±10.2), 100 km (−0.4±1.1), and 308 km (−29.5±14.6). *Significantly different from marathon at p<0.05; †Significantly different from 100 km at p<0.05.

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  Fig. 3 Comparison of pre/post triglyceride (TG) level difference by distance. Long-distance differences for the before and after difference in TGs are shown for marathon (−27.6±46.6), 100 km (−82.7±40.2), and 308 km (−100.8± 46.4). *Significantly different from marathon at p<0.05.

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  Fig. 4 Comparison of pre/post high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level difference by distance. Long-distance differences for the before and after difference in HDL-C are shown for marathon (1.0±4.4), 100 km (6.3±6.2), 308 km (11.5±9.4). *Significantly different from marathon at p<0.05; †Significantly different from 100 km at p<0.05.

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  Fig. 5 Comparison of pre/post low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level difference by distance. Long distance differences for the before and after difference in LDL-C are shown for marathon (6.2±7.3), 100 km (7.1±17.3), 308 km (−29.8±10.8). *Significantly different from marathon at p<0.05; †Significantly different from 100 km at p<0.05.

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