The baseline serum value of α-amylase is a significant predictor of distance running performance

Giuseppe Lippi; Gian Luca Salvagno; Elisa Danese; Cantor Tarperi; Antonio La Torre; Gian Cesare Guidi; Federico Schena

doi:10.1515/cclm-2014-0850

Article

The baseline serum value of α-amylase is a significant predictor of distance running performance

Giuseppe Lippi , Gian Luca Salvagno , Elisa Danese , Cantor Tarperi , Antonio La Torre , Gian Cesare Guidi and Federico Schena

Published/Copyright: October 2, 2014

Published by

Become an author with De Gruyter Brill

Submit Manuscript Author Information

From the journal Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM) Volume 53 Issue 3

Abstract

Background: This study was planned to investigate whether serum α-amylase concentration may be associated with running performance, physiological characteristics and other clinical chemistry analytes in a large sample of recreational athletes undergoing distance running.

Methods: Forty-three amateur runners successfully concluded a 21.1 km half-marathon at 75%–85% of their maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max). Blood was drawn during warm up and 15 min after conclusion of the run.

Results: After correction for body weight change, significant post-run increases were observed for serum values of alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, creatine kinase (CK), iron, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), triglycerides, urea and uric acid, whereas the values of body weight, glomerular filtration rate, total and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol were significantly decreased. The concentration of serum α-amylase was unchanged. In univariate analysis, significant associations with running performance were found for gender, VO₂max, training regimen and pre-run serum values of α-amylase, CK, glucose, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, LDH, urea and uric acid. In multivariate analysis, only VO₂max (p=0.042) and baseline α-amylase (p=0.021) remained significant predictors of running performance. The combination of these two variables predicted 71% of variance in running performance. The baseline concentration of serum α-amylase was positively correlated with variation of serum glucose during the trial (r=0.345; p=0.025) and negatively with capillary blood lactate at the end of the run (r=–0.352; p=0.021).

Conclusions: We showed that the baseline serum α-amylase concentration significantly and independently predicts distance running performance in recreational runners.

Keywords: amylase; α-amylase; performance; running; sports

Corresponding author: Prof. Giuseppe Lippi, U.O. Diagnostica Ematochimica, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126 Parma, Italy, Phone: +39 0521 703050/+39 0521 703791, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

Acknowledgments

The authors sincerely thank the staff of the CeRiSM (Centre for Mountain Sport and Health), who assisted with recruitment and the athletes who generously participated in the study. The study received no external financial support.

Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.

Financial support: None declared.

Employment or leadership: None declared.

Honorarium: None declared.

Competing interests: The funding organization(s) played no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the report for publication.

References

1. Saunders PU, Pyne DB, Telford RD, Hawley JA. Factors affecting running economy in trained distance runners. Sports Med 2004;34:465–85.10.2165/00007256-200434070-00005Search in Google Scholar

2. Brandon LJ. Physiological factors associated with middle distance running performance. Sports Med 1995;19:268–77.10.2165/00007256-199519040-00004Search in Google Scholar

3. Knechtle B, Barandun U, Knechtle P, Zingg MA, Rosemann T, Rüst CA. Prediction of half-marathon race time in recreational female and male runners. Springerplus 2014;3:248.10.1186/2193-1801-3-248Search in Google Scholar

4. Ward-Smith AJ. The bioenergetics of optimal performances in middle-distance and long-distance track running. J Biomech 1999;32:461–5.10.1016/S0021-9290(99)00029-9Search in Google Scholar

5. Houmard JA, Costill DL, Mitchell JB, Park SH, Chenier TC. The role of anaerobic ability in middle distance running performance. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1991;62:40–3.10.1007/BF00635632Search in Google Scholar PubMed

6. Rapoport BI. Metabolic factors limiting performance in marathon runners. PLoS Comput Biol 2010;6:e1000960.10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000960Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

7. Lippi G, Valentino M, Cervellin G. Laboratory diagnosis of acute pancreatitis: in search of the Holy Grail. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2012;49:18–31.10.3109/10408363.2012.658354Search in Google Scholar PubMed

8. Koibuchi E, Suzuki Y. Exercise upregulates salivary amylase in humans (Review). Exp Ther Med 2014;7:773–7.10.3892/etm.2014.1497Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

9. Davis E, Loiacono R, Summers RJ. The rush to adrenaline: drugs in sport acting on the beta-adrenergic system. Br J Pharmacol 2008;154:584–97.10.1038/bjp.2008.164Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

10. Del Coso J, Fernández D, Abián-Vicen J, Salinero JJ, González-Millán C, Areces F, et al. Running pace decrease during a marathon is positively related to blood markers of muscle damage. PLoS One 2013;8:e57602.10.1371/journal.pone.0057602Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

11. American Dietetic Association; Dietitians of Canada; American College of Sports Medicine, Rodriguez NR, Di Marco NM, Langley S. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Nutrition and athletic performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2009;41:709–31.10.1249/MSS.0b013e31890eb86Search in Google Scholar PubMed

12. Lippi G, Schena F, Salvagno GL, Montagnana M, Gelati M, Tarperi C, et al. Acute variation of biochemical markers of muscle damage following a 21-km, half-marathon run. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 2008;68:667–72.10.1080/00365510802126844Search in Google Scholar PubMed

13. Lippi G, Schena F, Montagnana M, Salvagno GL, Banfi G, Guidi GC. Significant variation of traditional markers of liver injury after a half-marathon run. Eur J Intern Med 2011;22:e36–8.10.1016/j.ejim.2011.02.007Search in Google Scholar PubMed

14. Banfi G, Colombini A, Lombardi G, Lubkowska A. Metabolic markers in sports medicine. Adv Clin Chem 2012;56:1–54.10.1016/B978-0-12-394317-0.00015-7Search in Google Scholar

15. Goodyear LJ, Van Houten DR, Fronsoe MS, Rocchio ML, Dover EV, Durstine JL. Immediate and delayed effects of marathon running on lipids and lipoproteins in women. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1990;22:588–92.10.1249/00005768-199010000-00008Search in Google Scholar PubMed

16. Lippi G, Schena F, Salvagno GL, Tarperi C, Montagnana M, Gelati M, et al. Acute variation of estimated glomerular filtration rate following a half-marathon run. Int J Sports Med 2008;29:948–51.10.1055/s-2008-1038745Search in Google Scholar PubMed

17. Deitrick RW. Intravascular haemolysis in the recreational runner. Br J Sports Med 1991;25:183–7.10.1136/bjsm.25.4.183Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

18. Janssen GM, Degenaar CP, Menheere PP, Habets HM, Geurten P. Plasma urea, creatinine, uric acid, albumin, and total protein concentrations before and after 15-, 25-, and 42-km contests. Int J Sports Med 1989;10(Suppl 3):S132–8.10.1055/s-2007-1024961Search in Google Scholar PubMed

19. Bassett DR Jr, Howley ET. Limiting factors for maximum oxygen uptake and determinants of endurance performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2000;32:70–84.Search in Google Scholar

20. Noakes TD. Maximal oxygen uptake: ‘classical’ versus ‘contemporary’ viewpoints: a rebuttal. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1998;30:1381–98.Search in Google Scholar

21. Bakońska-Pacoń E, Sobiech KA. Activity of urinary alpha-amylase isoenzymes in marathon runners. Acta Med Pol 1989;30:51–7.Search in Google Scholar

22. Kivlighan KT, Granger DA. Salivary alpha-amylase response to competition: relation to gender, previous experience, and attitudes. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2006;31:703–14.10.1016/j.psyneuen.2006.01.007Search in Google Scholar PubMed

23. Diaz MM, Bocanegra OL, Teixeira RR, Soares SS, Espindola FS. Salivary nitric oxide and alpha-amylase as indexes of training intensity and load. Int J Sports Med 2013;34:8–13.Search in Google Scholar

24. Mandel AL, Breslin PA. High endogenous salivary amylase activity is associated with improved glycemic homeostasis following starch ingestion in adults. J Nutr 2012;142:853–8.10.3945/jn.111.156984Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

25. Chicharro JL, Pérez M, Carvajal A, Bandrés F, Lucía A. The salivary amylase, lactate and electromyographic response to exercise. Jpn J Physiol 1999;49:551–4.10.2170/jjphysiol.49.551Search in Google Scholar PubMed

26. Nater UM, La Marca R, Florin L, Moses A, Langhans W, Koller MM, et al. Stress-induced changes in human salivary alpha-amylase activity – associations with adrenergic activity. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2006;31:49–58.10.1016/j.psyneuen.2005.05.010Search in Google Scholar PubMed

27. Chatterton RT Jr, Vogelsong KM, Lu YC, Ellman AB, Hudgens GA. Salivary alpha-amylase as a measure of endogenous adrenergic activity. Clin Physiol 1996;16:433–4.10.1111/j.1475-097X.1996.tb00731.xSearch in Google Scholar

28. Thoma MV, Kirschbaum C, Wolf JM, Rohleder N. Acute stress responses in salivary alpha-amylase predict increases of plasma norepinephrine. Biol Psychol 2012;91:342–8.10.1016/j.biopsycho.2012.07.008Search in Google Scholar PubMed

29. Costa RJ, Fortes MB, Richardson K, Bilzon JL, Walsh NP. The effects of postexercise feeding on saliva antimicrobial proteins. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2012;22:184–91.10.1123/ijsnem.22.3.184Search in Google Scholar PubMed

30. Capranica L, Lupo C, Cortis C, Chiodo S, Cibelli G, Tessitore A. Salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase reactivity to taekwondo competition in children. Eur J Appl Physiol 2012;112:647–52.10.1007/s00421-011-2023-zSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

31. Grasso D, Corsetti R, Lanteri P, Di Bernardo C, Colombini A, Graziani R, et al. Bone-muscle unit activity, salivary steroid hormones profile, and physical effort over a 3-week stage race. Scand J Med Sci Sports [Epub ahead of print 2013 Oct 31].Search in Google Scholar

32. Lippi G, Banfi G, Botrè F, de la Torre X, De Vita F, Gomez-Cabrera MC, et al. Laboratory medicine and sports: between Scylla and Charybdis. Clin Chem Lab Med 2012;50:1309–16.10.1515/cclm-2012-0062Search in Google Scholar PubMed

33. Gore CJ, Morkeberg J, Schmidt W, Garvican LA, Fellman N. Plasma volume shifts during multiday racing. Clin Chem Lab Med 2013;51:e107–9.10.1515/cclm-2012-0728Search in Google Scholar PubMed

34. Sanchis-Gomar F, Lippi G. Physical activity – an important preanalytical variable. Biochem Med (Zagreb) 2014;24:68–79.10.11613/BM.2014.009Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Received: 2014-8-24

Accepted: 2014-9-9

Published Online: 2014-10-2

Published in Print: 2015-2-1

You are currently not able to access this content.

Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/cclm-2014-0850

Keywords for this article

amylase&semi; α-amylase&semi; performance&semi; running&semi; sports