Predicting race time in male amateur marathon runners.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between anthropometry, training characteristics, muscular strength and effort-related cardiovascular response and marathon race time in male amateur runners. METHODS: A total of 84 male amateur marathon runners aged between 23 and 70 years took part in this study (41.0±9.5 years). All of them competed in the 2013 edition of the Madrid Marathon with a finish time between 169.8 and 316 minutes (226.0±28.5 minutes). Age, running experience, number of marathon races finished, mean kilometers run weekly in the last three months, and previous personal best time in the 10 km, half marathon and marathon were recorded. Moreover, anthropometric characteristics, and the results from the Ruffier Test and a whole-body isometric force test were measured. After the marathon, the race time was registered. RESULTS: Training volume (r=-0.479; P=0.001), previous running milestones (marathon r=0.756; half-marathon r=0.812; 10-km r=0.732; P<0.001), cardiovascular fitness (r=0.371; P=0.001) and anthropometric variables (body mass, Body Mass Index, body fat percentage, skinfolds and lower leg volume) were correlated to marathon performance (P<0.05). Two regression models appeared from the data with r2>0.50. The best, including body fat percentage, heart rate change during the recovery after the Ruffier Test and the half-marathon race time, was strongly correlated with real marathon performance (r=0.77; P<0.001). A second regression model was proposed replacing the half-marathon performance with the 10-km race time, reducing the correlation to 0.73 (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Marathon performance could be partially predicted by two different equations, including body fat percentage, recovery heart rate in the Ruffier Test and a half-marathon or 10-km performance.

Respiratory function is associated to marathon race time.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between marathon race time and expiratory pulmonary parameters in a heterogeneous group of amateur marathoners. METHODS: A total of 110 marathon runners (age=41.9±9.4 yr, body mass=74.0±9.1 kg, height=175.0±8.0 cm) volunteered to participate in this study. First, they completed a questionnaire about running experience and best performance time in the 10-km, half-marathon and marathon competitions. Then, they performed a maximal spirometry test following guidelines for standardized spirometry. Measurement included peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC). All these expiratory variables were normalized for the participant's body mass. Within 3 days of the spirometry test, participants competed in an official marathon and race time was measured by a chip-timing. After this, participants were grouped by their marathon race time as follows: <210 min, N.=33; between 210 and 240 min, N.=31; and >240 min, N.=46). RESULTS: Marathon race time correlated to the FVC·kg-1 (r=-0.41; P<0.001), to FEV1·kg-1 (r=-0.40; P<0.001), and PEF·kg-1 (r=-0.50; P=0.005). However, self-reported running experience did not show significant correlations to FVC·kg-1 and PEF·kg-1 (P>0.05). The group of faster marathoners (e.g., <210 min) had greater FEV1·kg-1 (<210 min group: 0.064±0.009; 210-240 min group: 0.058±0.008; >240 min group: 0.057±0.009; P<0.001) and higher FVC·kg-1 (<210 min group: 0.081±0.011; 210-240 min group: 0.075±0.012; >240 min group: 0.072±0.010; P<0.001) than the other two groups of slower runners. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a significant relationship between individual pulmonary function and marathon race time. Thus, a higher lung capacity per kg of body mass might be a key variable for marathon performance in amateur runners.

[Vitamin D deficiency is associated with cardiovascular risk factors in a healthy population]. / El déficit de vitamina D se asocia a factores de riesgo en personas sin antecedentes cardiovasculares.

Vitamin D (VitD) deficiency is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the association of VitD deficiency (<50 mmol/l) and cardiovascular risk factors in a healthy population, from July-November 2012, in a private center at Buenos Aires province. 333 people were included, aged 41.6±12.4 years (58.6% men), 49.2% practiced no physical activity, 56.8% were overweight (70.3% man vs 37.7% women, p<0.001), 12.5% with systolic blood pressure (SBP) >140 mmHg and 6% diastolic blood pressure (DBP) >90 mmHg. VitD deficiency was observed in 29.1% (31.3% man vs 26.1% women, p=0.3), more frequent with obesity (OR 1.85, IC95:1.05-3.25, p=0.02), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C)<50 mg/dl (OR 1.71, IC95:1.06-2.76, p=0.02) and triglycerides>150 mg/dl (OR 1.77, IC95:1.02-3.06, p=0.03). A trend towards VitD deficiency and SBP>140 mmHg (OR 1.88, IC95:0.93-3.77, p=0.07) or DBP>90 mmHg (OR 1.39, IC95:0.5-3.65, p=0.5) was observed. Lineal correlation between VitD and HDL-C (p<0.001) or triglycerides (p<0.001) was observed. Multiple logistic regression showed that VitD deficiency association with low HDL-C was independent of age, female sex, obesity and physical activity. Association of VitD deficiency with hypetriglyceridemia was independent of age, female sex and obesity. This study shows an association between VitD deficiency and cardiovascular risk factors like obesity, low HDL <50 mg/dl and hypertriglyceridemia. A trend toward higher SBP was also observed. Experimental studies are granted in order to establish a cause-effect relationship.

El déficit de vitamina D (VitD) se asocia con mayor morbimortalidad. Se evaluó la relación entre el déficit de VitD (<20 mg/dl) y los factores de riesgo cardiovascular (FRCV) en pacientes sin antecedentes, de Julio a Noviembre 2012, en un centro privado de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Se incluyeron 333 pacientes de 41.6±12.4 años (58.6% hombres), el 49.2% no realizaba actividad física, 56.8% con sobrepeso (hombres 70.3% vs 37.7% mujeres, p<0.001), 12.5% con PAS>140 mmHg y 6% PAD>90 mmHg. El déficit de VitD se observó en el 29.1% (31.3% hombres y 26.1% mujeres, p=0.3), más frecuente en obesos (OR 1.85, IC95:1.05-3.25, p=0.02), en HDL <50 mg/dl (OR 1.71, IC95:1.06-2.76, p=0.02) y triglicéridos(TG)>150 mg/dl (OR 1.77, IC95:1.02-3.06, p=0.03). Se observó tendencia a mayor déficit de VitD en TAS>140 mmHg (OR 1.88, IC95:0.93-3.77, p=0.07) y TAD>90 mmHg (OR 1.39, IC95:0.5-3.65, p=0.5). Se observó correlación lineal entre VitD con HDL (p<0.001) y triglicéridos (p<0.001). Por regresión logística múltiple, el déficit de VitD se asoció con HDL bajo independientemente de edad, sexo femenino, obesidad y actividad física, mientras que la asociación con hipertrigliceridemia fue independiente de edad, obesidad y sexo femenino, que fueron las otras variables asociadas con diferencia estadísticamente significativa en el univariable. Este estudio muestra una asociación entre el déficit de VitD y FRCV como la obesidad, el HDL<50 mg/dl y la hipertrigliceridemia. Se observó también una tendencia a mayor PA en pacientes con déficit de VitD. Se necesitan estudios experimentales para evaluar si la asociación es causal.

El déficit de vitamina D se asocia a factores de riesgo en personas sin antecedentes cardiovasculares. / [Vitamin D deficiency is associated with cardiovascular risk factors in a healthy population].

Vitamin D (VitD) deficiency is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the association of VitD deficiency (<50 mmol/l) and cardiovascular risk factors in a healthy population, from July-November 2012, in a private center at Buenos Aires province. 333 people were included, aged 41.6±12.4 years (58.6

men), 49.2

practiced no physical activity, 56.8

were overweight (70.3

man vs 37.7

women, p<0.001), 12.5

with systolic blood pressure (SBP) >140 mmHg and 6

diastolic blood pressure (DBP) >90 mmHg. VitD deficiency was observed in 29.1

(31.3

man vs 26.1

women, p=0.3), more frequent with obesity (OR 1.85, IC95:1.05-3.25, p=0.02), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C)<50 mg/dl (OR 1.71, IC95:1.06-2.76, p=0.02) and triglycerides>150 mg/dl (OR 1.77, IC95:1.02-3.06, p=0.03). A trend towards VitD deficiency and SBP>140 mmHg (OR 1.88, IC95:0.93-3.77, p=0.07) or DBP>90 mmHg (OR 1.39, IC95:0.5-3.65, p=0.5) was observed. Lineal correlation between VitD and HDL-C (p<0.001) or triglycerides (p<0.001) was observed. Multiple logistic regression showed that VitD deficiency association with low HDL-C was independent of age, female sex, obesity and physical activity. Association of VitD deficiency with hypetriglyceridemia was independent of age, female sex and obesity. This study shows an association between VitD deficiency and cardiovascular risk factors like obesity, low HDL <50 mg/dl and hypertriglyceridemia. A trend toward higher SBP was also observed. Experimental studies are granted in order to establish a cause-effect relationship.

El déficit de vitamina D se asocia a factores de riesgo en personas sin antecedentes cardiovasculares / [Vitamin D deficiency is associated with cardiovascular risk factors in a healthy population].

Vitamin D (VitD) deficiency is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the association of VitD deficiency (<50 mmol/l) and cardiovascular risk factors in a healthy population, from July-November 2012, in a private center at Buenos Aires province. 333 people were included, aged 41.6±12.4 years (58.6

with systolic blood pressure (SBP) >140 mmHg and 6

diastolic blood pressure (DBP) >90 mmHg. VitD deficiency was observed in 29.1

women, p=0.3), more frequent with obesity (OR 1.85, IC95:1.05-3.25, p=0.02), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C)150 mg/dl (OR 1.77, IC95:1.02-3.06, p=0.03). A trend towards VitD deficiency and SBP>140 mmHg (OR 1.88, IC95:0.93-3.77, p=0.07) or DBP>90 mmHg (OR 1.39, IC95:0.5-3.65, p=0.5) was observed. Lineal correlation between VitD and HDL-C (p<0.001) or triglycerides (p<0.001) was observed. Multiple logistic regression showed that VitD deficiency association with low HDL-C was independent of age, female sex, obesity and physical activity. Association of VitD deficiency with hypetriglyceridemia was independent of age, female sex and obesity. This study shows an association between VitD deficiency and cardiovascular risk factors like obesity, low HDL <50 mg/dl and hypertriglyceridemia. A trend toward higher SBP was also observed. Experimental studies are granted in order to establish a cause-effect relationship.