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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Der Einfluß von extremen Ausdauerbelastungen auf den Eiweißstoffwechsel des Menschen mit besonderer Berücksichtigung des Immunsystems

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In summer 1981, six long-distance runners covered a 1100-km-course across the Federal Republic of Germany within 20 days. Four of them were on a more or less ovo-lacto-vegetable and two a vegetarian diet. In spite of a high absolute but indeed low relative protein supply, a continuous decrease of the total protein content could be noticed in the serum. The alterations of the protein fractions corresponded to those of an acute-phase reaction. The Immunoglobulin-G and the Immunoglobulin-A content decreased continuously. The cortisol level was always above the norm, the insulin level always below. The glucagon level increased continuously in the course of the day. The urea-N-level moved around the upper limit. During the first part of the course a slightly elevated protein elemination could be noticed. Those alterations give size to the assumption that there is a shift of the metabolism towards a catabolic state, i.e. an attempt to cover the energy requirement through the gluconeogenesis. The alterations of the protein fractions point to an increasing and not healing traumatisation of the muscles and to a resistance-debility of the immunosystem, which are in accord with the subjective state of health and the clinical reports.