Oxy-inflammatory profile of finishers and non-finishers in an extreme ultra-endurance trail race: the 866-km Transpyrénéa

This study investigates the bio-physiological responses occurring under extreme stress conditions and the characterization of oxy-inflammatory profile of finishers (FR) and non- finishers (NFR) during and following the Transpyrénéa, an 866-km extreme ultra-race across the French Pyrenees with an altitude difference of 52,900+m ascent. Thirty-nine ex- perienced ultra-marathon runners (age 43.5±9.1ys; weight 72.1±11.1kg; BMI 23.3±2.6 kg/m2) were studied, with mini-invasive methods by capillary blood and urine samples obtained from baseline (T0), along (T1, 2, 3) and to the end (T4) of the race. Reactive Oxy- gen Species (ROS) production; antioxidant capacity (TAC), oxidative damage (8-hydroxy- 2-deoxy Guanosine: 8-OH-dG; and 8-isoprostane: 8-isoPGF2α), inflammatory (IL-6), nitric oxide pathway (NOx and 3-NT), neopterin, and hematologic (lactate, and hematocrit) bi- omarkers were assessed. In both FR and NFR athletes a marked systemic increase of ROS, oxidative and nitrosative damage, inflammation, transient immune-renal dysfunction and a release of lactate were observed all along the race. NFR displayed distinct redox signatures vs FR: ROS production (T2: +35 vs +40%), oxidative damage (T2: 8-iso +219 vs +136%; 8-OH-dG +249 vs +217%), neopterin (T2: +68% vs +39%) and 3-NT (T2: +139% vs +115%) potentially reflecting superior training adaptations, greater antioxidant system, and enhanced metabolic efficiency allowing them to better tolerate extreme physiological stress.