Götz Kohler

Body Mass and Circumference of Upper Arm Are Associated with Race Performance in Ultraendurance Runners in a Multistage Race-The Isarrun 2006

In the present study, we investigated the association of anthropometric parameters with race performance in ultraendurance runners in a multistage ultraendurance run, in which athletes had to run 338 km within 5 consecutive days. In 17 male successful finishers, calculations of body mass, body height, skinfold thicknesses, extremity circumference, skeletal muscle mass (SM), and percentage body fat (%BF) were performed before the race to correlate anthropometric parameters with race performance. A positive association was shown between total running time and both body mass (r2 = .29, p < .05) and upper arm circumference (r2 = .23, p < .05). In contrast, body height, skinfold thicknesses, extremity circumference, SM, and %BF showed no association with race performance (p > .05). We concluded that in a multistage ultraendurance run, body mass and upper arm circumference were negatively associated with race performance in well experienced ultraendurance runners. In contrast, body height, skinfold thicknesses, circumferences of the other extremities, SM, and %BF showed no association with race performance.

Peripheral Administration of a Melanocortin 4-Receptor Inverse Agonist Prevents Loss of Lean Body Mass in Tumor-Bearing Mice

Cachexia affects many different chronically ill patient populations, including those with cancer. It results in loss of body weight, particularly of lean body mass (LBM), and is estimated to be responsible for over 20% of all cancer-related deaths. Currently, available drugs are ineffective, and new therapies are urgently needed. Melanocortin 4-receptor (MC4-R) blockade has been shown recently to be effective in preventing cancer cachexia in rodent models. In the present study, we have tested a MC4-R blocker, ML00253764 [2-{2-[2-(5-bromo-2-methoxyphenyl)-ethyl]-3-fluorophenyl}-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazolium hydrochloride] (Vos et al., 2004), in vitro and in vivo. In membranes of human embryonic kidney 293 cells expressing human MC4-R, ML00253764 displaced [Nle4, d-Phe7]-α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone binding with an IC50 of 0.32 μM. At concentrations above 1 μM, ML00253764 decreased cAMP accumulation (maximal reduction of -20%) indicative of inverse agonist activity. ML00253764 was administered twice daily (15 mg/kg s.c.) for 13 days to C57BL6 mice bearing s.c. Lewis lung carcinoma tumors. Food intake and body weight were measured, and body composition was assessed using magnetic resonance relaxometry. ML00253764 stimulated light-phase food intake relative to vehicle-treated controls (p < 0.05), although no effect was observed on 24-h food intake. During the 21 days of the experiment, the LBM of tumor vehicle-treated mice decreased (p < 0.05). In contrast, the tumor-bearing mice treated with ML00253764 maintained their LBM. These data support the view that MC4-R blockade may be a suitable approach for the treatment of cancer cachexia and that MC4-R inverse agonists may have potential as drug candidates.

Effect of a multistage ultra-endurance triathlon on body composition: World Challenge Deca Iron Triathlon 2006

Objective: To investigate the effect of a multistage ultra-endurance triathlon on body composition in ultra-triathletes. Design: Descriptive field study. Setting: The “World Challenge Deca Iron Triathlon 2006” in Monterrey, Mexico, in which every day for 10 consecutive days athletes had to perform the distance of one Ironman triathlon. Subjects: Eight male ultra-endurance athletes (mean (SD) age 40.6 (10.7) years, weight 76.4 (8.4) kg, height 175 (4) cm and body mass index (BMI) 24.7 (2.2) kg/m2). Interventions: None. Main outcome measurements: Determination of body mass, protein mass, body fat, per cent body fat, mineral mass, total body water, intracellular water, extracellular water and lean body mass with a direct segmental multifrequency bioelectrical impedance method before the race and after each stage in order to show changes in body composition. Results: A statistically significant decrease of body mass (−2.4 kg, p = 0.014), body fat (−5 kg, p = 0.0078) and per cent body fat (−6.4%, p = 0.0078) occurred at the end of the first day compared to values taken in the pre-race period. In contrast, at the same time, a statistically significant increase of protein mass (+0.7 kg, p = 0.035), mineral mass (+0.2 kg, p = 0.04), total body water (+1.8 litres, p = 0.042), intracellular water (+1.6 litres, p = 0.034) and lean body mass (+2.6 kg, p = 0.023) was shown. After the first day until the end of the challenge, body fat (−3 kg, p>0.05) and per cent body fat (−3.9%, p>0.05) showed a statistically significant decrease, whereas the other parameters showed no changes. Conclusions: Athletes taking part in a multistage ultra-endurance triathlon over 10 Ironman triathlon distances in 10 consecutive days lost 3 kg of body fat; skeletal muscle mass, mineral mass and body water were unchanged.

Cycling and Running Performance, Not Anthropometric Factors, are Associated with Race Performance in a Triple Iron Triathlon

Sixteen well-trained and well-experienced male Caucasian triathletes participated in World Championship Triple Iron Triathlon 2006 in Moosburg, Kärnten, Austria, which required athletes to perform 11.6 km swimming, 540 km cycling, and 126.6 km running within a time limit of 58 hours. Body mass, body height, skinfold thicknesses, circumferences of extremities, skeletal muscle mass, and body fat were measured. The results showed that race time was not significantly influenced by the anthropometric properties (p > 0.05). No significant influence was observed between race time and the calculated parameters of body mass index (BMI), body fat, and skeletal muscle mass (p > 0.05). In contrast, cycling performance (r2 = 0.49, p < 0.01) and running performance (r2 = 0.73, p < 0.01) are associated with total race performance. It summery, in an ultratriathlon, BMI, body height, skinfold thicknesses, circumference of extremities, skeletal muscle mass, and body fat have no influence on race performance in world-class ultratriathletes. Total race performance is associated with performance in cycling and running, not in swimming.

Influence of anthropometry on race performance in extreme endurance triathletes: World Challenge Deca Iron Triathlon 2006

Objective: To investigate the influence of anthropometric variables on race performance in ultra-endurance triathletes in an ultra-triathlon. Design: Descriptive field study. Setting: The “World Challenge Deca Iron Triathlon 2006” in Monterrey, Mexico, in which everyday for 10 consecutive days athletes had to perform the distance of one Ironman triathlon of 3.8 km swimming, 180 km cycling and 42.195 km running. Subjects: Eight male ultra-endurance athletes (mean (SD) age 40.6 (10.7) years, weight 76.4 (8.4) kg, height 175 (4) cm and body mass index (BMI) 24.7 (2.2) kg/m2). Interventions: None. Main outcome measures: Direct measurement of body mass, height, leg length, skinfold thicknesses, limb circumference and calculation of BMI, skeletal muscle mass (SM), percentage SM (%SM) and percentage body fat (%BF) in order to correlate measured and calculated anthropometric variables with race performance. Results: Race time was not significantly (p>0.05) influenced by the directly measured variables, height, leg length, body mass, average skinfold thicknesses, or circumference of thigh, calf or upper arm. Furthermore, no significant (p>0.05) correlation was observed between race time and the calculated variables, BMI, %SM and %BF. Conclusions: In a multistage ultra-triathlon over 10 Ironman triathlon distances in 10 consecutive days, there was no effect of body mass, height, leg length, skinfold thicknesses, limb circumference, BMI, %SM or %BF on race performance in the only eight finishers.

Prevalence of exercise-associated hyponatremia in male ultraendurance athletes.

Objective:The prevalence of exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH) has mainly been investigated in marathoners and Ironman triathletes. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of EAH in male ultraendurance athletes in other disciplines, such as ultraswimming, ultracycling, and ultramarathon running. Design:Observational field study. Setting:“Marathon Swim” in Lake Zurich, the “Swiss Cycling Marathon,” the “Swiss Bike Masters,” the “100-km Lauf Biel,” and the “Swiss Jura Marathon.” Participants:Fifteen ultraswimmers, 28 ultra-road cyclists, 37 ultra-mountain bikers, 95 ultramarathoners, and 25 mountain ultramarathoners. Main Outcome Measures:Changes in body mass, plasma sodium, urinary specific gravity, and hematocrit were measured. The athletes recorded their intake of fluids. Results:Two swimmers (13%), 3 road cyclists (10.7%), no mountain bikers (0%), 5 ultramarathoners (5%), and 2 mountain ultramarathoners (8%) developed EAH. In the mountain bikers (r = −0.41) and the 100-km ultramarathoners (r = −0.52), fluid intake was significantly and negatively related to race time. In the mountain ultramarathoners, fluid consumption increased during the race. Conclusions:The prevalence of EAH was no higher in ultraendurance athletes compared with existing reports on marathoners and Ironman triathletes. Of the 200 investigated ultraendurance athletes, 12 finishers (6%) developed EAH.

An ultratriathlon leads to a decrease of body fat and skeletal muscle mass--the Triple Iron Triathlon Austria 2006.

We investigated the effects on body composition in triathletes at the Triple Iron Triathlon Austria in 2006, where athletes had to perform 11.6 km swimming, 540 km cycling, and 126.6 km running within 58 h. In 16 male triathletes, body mass (BM), skinfold thicknesses, and circumferences of extremities were measured before and after the competition in order to calculate body mass index (BMI), percent body fat (%BF), fat mass (FM), and skeletal muscle mass (SM). Body mass, BMI, %BF, FM, and SM decreased statistically significantly (p < 0.01). The loss of BM is associated neither with the decrease of %BF (p > 0.05, r 2= 0.00) nor with the decrease of SM (p> 0.05, r 2= 0.06). There is no association between total race time and the loss of BM (r 2 = 0.06), %BF (r 2 = 0.10), and SM (r2 = 0.11). No significant correlation (p > 0.05, r 2= 0.43) was found between the initial SM and loss of SM.

An Ironman Triathlon Does Not Lead to a Change in Body Mass in Female Triathletes

In 16 female nonprofessional Ironman triathletes, body mass, percent body fat, and skeletal muscle mass were determined before and after an Ironman race in order to detect changes. Selected hematological and urinary variables as well as percent total body water were measured in order to quantify a change in hydration status. Body mass, skeletal muscle mass, percent body fat, and percent body water did not change (p > 0.05). Plasma volume increased significantly by 8.1 (13.7) % (p < 0.05). The significant increase in plasma volume, plasma urea concentration, and urinary specific gravity after the race was associated with a significant fall in hematocrit and plasma sodium concentration (p < 0.05). In contrast to studies of male Ironman triathletes, we could not detect a decrease in body mass in female Ironman triathletes. The statistically insignificant loss of 0.6 kg in body mass was smaller than reported in studies of male athletes.

The Effects of Running 1,200 km Within 17 Days on Body Composition in a Female Ultrarunner—Deutschlandlauf 2007

We describe the changes of body composition in the female overall winner of the Deutschlandlauf 2007 over 17 stages from the northeast to the southwest of Germany with average daily running stages of 70.9 km to cover the total distance of 1,200 km. Determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis, body mass (BM) increased, percent body fat (% BF) decreased, and percent body water as well as lean body mass (LBM) increased. Skeletal muscle mass and % BF as determined by an anthropometric method showed no changes. This data show, that this female runner achieved an excellent performance and that it is possible for a woman to beat all the men. This type of analysis provides a unique opportunity to gain insight into the physiological changes during multiday running in ultraendurance athletes.

Body Composition, Energy, and Fluid Turnover in a Five-Day Multistage Ultratriathlon: A Case Study

A multistage ultraendurance triathlon over five times the Ironman distance within five consecutive days leads in one ultraendurance triathlete to minimal changes in body mass (BM; –0.3 kg), fat mass (FM; –1.9 kg), skeletal muscle mass (SM; no change), and total body water (TBW; +1.5 l). This might be explained by the continuously slower race times throughout the race every day and the positive energy balance (8,095 kcal), although he suffered an average energy deficit of –1,848 kcal per Ironman distance. The increase of TBW might be explained by the increase of plasma volume (PV) in the first 3 days. The increase of PV and TBW could be a result of an increase of sodium, which was increased after every stage. We presume that this could be the result of an increased activity of aldosterone.