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Updated: Jan 13, 2026
Conducting Maximal and Submaximal Endurance Exercise Testing to Measure Physiological and Biological Responses to Acute Exercise in Humans
Published on: October 17, 2018
Plasma cardiovascular stress biomarkers response to marathon running
Anna Siekierzycka1, Adrianna Radulska1, Marcin Woźniak1
1Department of Medical Laboratory Diagnostics - Fahrenheit Biobank BBMRI.pl, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
Background:
Habitual physical activity is known to support cardiovascular health. However, when intensive exercise is performed for long durations, it can negatively affect the cardiovascular system. We evaluated the exercise-induced physiological responses of cardiac markers in male marathon runners based on basal plasma trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) levels, a metabolite related to major adverse cardiovascular events.
Methods:
Blood samples from 28 marathon runners were collected two weeks before the marathon run (baseline), after finishing the race (post-marathon), and two weeks after the race (2 weeks post-marathon). Serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI), endothelin-1 (ET-1), galectin-3, pentraxin-3, human growth differentiation factor 15, and neopterin were determined by the enzyme immunoassay method. Plasma trimethylamine (TMA) and TMAO were measured by the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method.
Results:
Running a marathon increased levels of circulating biomarkers. A greater post-marathon elevation of cTnI and ET-1 was associated with baseline plasma TMAO levels (R = 0.400, p = 0.035 and R = 0.476, p = 0.012, respectively). Moreover, we observed an increase in post-marathon TMA levels.
Conclusion:
Greater post-marathon elevation of cTnI and ET-1 was associated with higher baseline plasma TMAO levels. Therefore, TMAO could potentially serve as a new marker in assessing the response of cardiovascular stress biomarkers to marathon running.
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