Abstract
The distinction between positive and negative training adaptation is an important
prerequisite in the identification of any marker for monitoring training in athletes.
To investigate the glutamine responses to progressive endurance training, twenty healthy
males were randomly assigned to a training group or a non-exercising control group.
The training group performed a progressive (3 to 6 × 90 minute sessions per week at
70 % V·O2max) six-week endurance training programme on a cycle ergometer, while the control group
did not participate in any exercise during this period. Performance assessments (V·O2max and time to exhaustion) and resting blood samples (for haemoglobin concentration,
haematocrit, cortisol, ferritin, creatine kinase, glutamine, uric acid and urea analysis)
were obtained prior to the commencement of training (Pre) and at the end of week 2,
week 4 and week 6. The training group showed significant improvements in time to exhaustion
(p < 0.01), and V·O2max (p < 0.05) at all time points (except week 2 for V·O2max), while the control group performance measures did not change. In the training group,
haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit were significantly lower (p < 0.01) than
pretraining values at week 2 and 4, as percentage changes in plasma volume indicated
a significant (p < 0.01) haemodilution (+ 6 - 9 %) was present at week 2, 4 and 6.
No changes were seen in the control group. In the training group, plasma glutamine
(week 2, 4 and 6), creatine kinase (week 2 and 4), uric acid (week 2 and 4) and urea
(week 2 and 4) all increased significantly from pretraining levels. No changes in
cortisol or ferritin were found in the training group and no changes in any blood
variables were present in the control group. Plasma glutamine was the only blood variable
to remain significantly above pretraining (966 ± 32 µmol · 1-1) levels at week 6 (1176 ± 24 µmol · 1-1; p < 0.05) The elevation seen here in glutamine levels, after 6 weeks of progressive
endurance training, is in contrast to previous reports of decreased glutamine concentrations
in overtrained athletes. In conclusion, 6 weeks of progressive endurance training
steadily increased plasma glutamine levels, which may prove useful in the monitoring
of training responses.
Key words
V·O2max
- time to exhaustion - plasma volume - creatine kinase
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Associate Professor Brian Dawson
School of Human Movement and Exercise Science
The University of Western Australia
35 Stirling Highway
Crawley, W. A. 6009
Australia
Phone: + 61 8 64 88 22 76
Fax: + 61 8 64 88 10 39
Email: bdawson@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
