Cardiovascular exercise is known to exert a variety of positive physiological and psychological benefits on neurocognitive function, glucose and fatty acid metabolism, and muscle recovery. Many of these effects are thought to be mediated by brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), a neurotropin produced both centrally and peripherally. The fate of BDNF during prolonged endurance exercise is unknown and may be implicated to mitigate potential negative consequences to ultra-endurance racing. PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of a three-day ultra-endurance triathlon on serum BDNF concentrations pre- and post-race. METHODS: Twenty triathletes (age: 40 ± 8.8 yrs) who competed in the 2015 (N=13 men, 3 women) and 2017 (N=3 men, 1 woman) Ultraman Florida triathlon participated in the present study. Blood samples were collected 24-36 hrs pre-race and within 12 hrs post-race. Serum BDNF levels were measured via ELISA. A paired sample t-test was used to evaluate differences between pre- and post-race BDNF concentrations. Values are reported as mean ± SD with significance accepted as p<0.05. RESULTS: BDNF significantly increased from pre- to post- race (0.17 ± 0.9 pg/mL vs. 0.23 ± 0.14 pg/mL; +9.6%; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, BDNF is shown to significantly increase after a three-day ultra-endurance race. These findings may indicate that BDNF concentrations are elevated to potentially counteract any negative consequences derived from ultra-endurance exercise. The influence of both duration and intensity of exercise on BDNF concentrations need to be further elucidated due to its array of positive implications on cognitive and physical function and recovery from prolonged endurance exercise.
Supported by the International Society of Sports Nutrition and Florida State University.