The effect of prolonged aerobic exercise on serum adipokine levels during an ultra-marathon endurance race

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of prolonged intensive aerobic exercise and acute energy deficit (180 km ultra-marathon race) on serum leptin, adiponectin, resistin and visfatin levels and their association and interaction with serum cortisol and insulin levels in highly trained ultra-endurance runners. DESIGN: The study included 17 highly trained ultra-endurance male athletes (mean age 51.29±6.84 years and body mass index (BMI) 23.51±1.90) participating in the 5 th Olympian Race held in Greece on May 2010. Anthropometric values were assessed; serum cortisol, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, resistin and visfatin levels were measured at baseline, post-exercise and ∼20 hours after the end of the race. RESULTS: All hormonal values of the post-exercise and recovery status were corrected for plasma volume changes. The estimated energy deficit during the ultra-endurance event was about 5000 Kcal. At the end of the race serum resistin levels were elevated (p