Metabolic, haematological and antibody response during 24 hours of continuous sit-ups: case report

Background There is little information about the metabolic response during cyclical exercise requiring great strength and of extreme duration, that which represents the limit of human capacity. Material & Methods: A weight lifter trained for and carried out a 24-hour session of continuous sit-ups with abtoner in the form of an arc. The diet during the event was carefully designed and given to the athlete every hour. The metabolic, haematological and antibody response was measured in the capillary blood samples taken every four hours during the exercise. Results: A minimum level of glucose was observed at the midpoint of exercise, followed by a return to the basal level. During the second half of the exercise session, there was a steady and elevated level of urea. Plasmatic markers of muscular damage (CK and LDH) increased steadily during the first half of the exercise session, and remained at their maximum level (2800 U/l and 700 U/l, respectively) during the second half. Granulocytes reached their maximum level at the midpoint of exercise and diminished afterwards, whereas agranulocytes increased gradually until the end of the exercise session. IgA and IgG showed their lowest level at hour 4, and again at the end of the exercise. There was a high positive correlation between markers of muscular damage (urea, uric acid, inorganic phosphorous, and agranulocytes) during exercise. Conclusions: 1. low carbohydrate consumption did not significantly limit performance of athlete; 2. the permeability of the membrane is the dominant factor for the CK response during.