Longdom Conferences

Speaker

Oct 17-18, 2022    London, UK
3rd International Conference on

Sports Medicine-Fitness and Physiotherapy

Cristina Mennitti

Cristina Mennitti

Italy

Title: Identification of serum biomarkers to create an athlete’s biological passport

Abstract:

Intense physical exercise induces metabolic and organ adaptations that result in variations in terms of concentration and activity of some biochemical and haematological parameters. The identification and monitoring of these parameters could represent a new method of clinical evaluation in athletes in order to prevent injuries, loss of shape and, above all, the appearance of some pathologies. For this study, we have recruited 12 male athletes from a professional basketball team who, with prior informed consent, underwent blood sampling in different phases of the sports season: 0 months, in the initial phases of the championship; 1 month and 3 months after the start of the championship. Erythrocytes, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and platelets have no significant variations, but there is an increase in the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and in the mean platelet volume (MPV) between 1 and 3 months in comparison to 0 months. CK levels have no significant variation between 0 and 3 months; whereas LDH levels undergo a slight decrease if we compare months 0 with months 3. Vitamin D levels decrease at 1 month and 3 months if compared with 0 months. Finally, cortisol and thyroid hormones levels have no significant variation, but there is a moderate increase in the FT4 hormone at 1 month when compared to month 0. Moreover, we evaluated serum CRP levels that revealed a significant increase in 3 months if compared with month 0.In conclusion, this study has revealed changes in some biochemical and haematological parameters during the sporting season, in accordance with the frequency and intensity of physical activity. These parameters could be included in an “athlete's biological passport”, a panel of specific markers that, applied to the individual athlete, would help sports doctors and athletic trainers to develop personalized training and recoveryprograms, aiming at safeguarding the athlete’s health and maximizing athletic performance.

Useful Links

News

SPORTS MEDICINE NEWS AND RESEARCH

2022-09-22 - 2022-09

Regular moderate-intensity exercise may reduce risk of COVID-19 infection and severity Regular physical activity is linked to a lower risk of COVID-19 infection and severity, including hospital admission and death, finds a pooled data analysis of the available evidence, published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. A weekly tally of 150 minutes of moderate intensity, or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity, physical activity seems to afford the best protection, the analysis suggests. Previous research suggests that physical activity can lessen both the risk of infection and the severity of respiratory infections due, at least in part, to its ability to bolster the immune system. The link between regular physical activity and COVID-19 severity is poorly understood, but probably involves both metabolic and environmental factors, say the researchers, who set out to try and quantify the threshold of physical activity that might be needed to lessen the risks of infection and associated hospital admission and death. They searched 3 major research databases for relevant studies published between November 2019 and March 2022, and from an initial haul of 291, pooled the results of 16. The studies included a total of 1,853,610 adults, just over half of whom (54%) were women. The average age of participants was 53. Most of the studies were observational and were carried out in South Korea, England, Iran, Canada, the UK, Spain, Brazil, Palestine, South Africa and Sweden. The pooled data analysis showed that, overall, those who included regular physical activity in their weekly routine had an 11% lower risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. They also had a 36% lower risk of hospital admission, a 44% lower risk of severe COVID-19 illness, and a 43% lower risk of death from COVID-19 than their physically inactive peers. The maximum protective effect occurred at around 500 Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) minutes a week, after which there were no further improvements. METS express the amount of energy (calories) expended per minute of physical activity, and 500 of them are the equivalent of 150 minutes of moderate intensity, or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity, physical activity. The researchers caution that the analysis included observational studies, differing study designs, subjective assessments of physical activity levels, and concerned only the Beta and Delta variants of SARS-CoV-2 rather than Omicron, all of which may weaken the findings. But there are plausible biological explanations for what they found, they say. Regular moderate-intensity exercise may help to boost the body's anti-inflammatory responses, as well as cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, all of which may explain its beneficial effects on COVID-19 severity, they suggest. They conclude: "Our findings highlight the protective effects of engaging in sufficient physical activity as a public health strategy, with potential benefits t

Newsletter

© 2024 All Rights Reserved by Longdom