The effects of cycling and marathon training on eighteen blood parameters

Abnormal blood chemistry values may be normal for competitive cycling and marathon training, with significant differences (p less than 0.05) between the two groups. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of bicycle training and marathon training on fasting blood chemistry values. Ten significant differences (p less than 0.05) were observed between cyclists and marathoners on the eighteen blood parameters studied, with four of the blood parameters being outside the established laboratory norms of +/- 2 standard deviations. This was shown by the elevations in creatine phosphokinase levels in the competitive cyclists with the marathoners having higher than the normal ranges for lactate dehydrogenase and lower than normal ranges for hematocrit and red blood cells. Significant differences for albumin, cholesterol, creatine phosphokinase, globulin, hematocrit, lactate dehydrogenase, low density lipoprotein, total protein, red blood cells and triglycerides were observed between the groups.