Marathon Running and Kidney Damage
Marathon Runners and Kidney Function
22 participants
Urine and Blood Sample Measurements taken:
A day before they ran
30 minutes after they ran
Day after they ran
What was measured?
Blood markers of kidney function called BUN and creatinine
Looked at urine under microscope
Main finding?
82% of runners developed acute kidney injury
Abrupt increase in serum creatinine (50% rise) suggests that there is a loss of kidney function (filtration) which leads to the diagnosis of acute kidney injury
In comparison, 33% of post-cardiac surgery (like by-pass surgery) patients develop acute kidney injury
What does this indicate?
That there is SHORT term kidney damage. All the marathoners returned to baseline within 48 hours after racing.
Look at the video on the page for the urine microscopy images (3:29)
The damage to the kidneys is not just simple dehydration.
There is ongoing repair going on for days after the marathon.
Could this cause progressive chronic kidney disease?
Not allowing adequate repair time is a concern.
Stay well hydrated
Avoid NSAIDS before running
If you have medical conditions, talk to your doctor
My two cents: Recovery is king, especially if you are older or have medical conditions. Make and execute a recovery plan.
Dr. Steven Horwitz Chiropractor Rockwall Texas Dallas Sports Academy
