Figure 1.
Physical exercise results in splanchnic hypoperfusion and intestinal cell damage.
A) Gastric tonometry shows decreased splanchnic perfusion during cycling and post cycling (n = 9). B) Plasma I-FABP levels reflect the development of intestinal epithelial cell damage during cycling and post cycling in healthy volunteers (n = 20). C) Normalized plasma I-FABP levels measured during exercise tonometry correlate significantly with the normalized values of splanchnic hypoperfusion (gapg-a pCO2 t-20 min) in healthy men (samples from 9 men). Data are mean ± SEM. Different from baseline (t = 0) (* p<0.01, ** p<0.001, *** p<0.0001).
Figure 2.
Physical exercise leads to ileal epithelial damage and inflammation, but does not result in renal injury.
A) Increased plasma IBABP levels point toward the development of exercise-induced ileal epithelial cell damage. B) Urinary NAG levels indicate absence of renal damage after cycling. Increased plasma MPO (C) and calprotectin (D) levels reveal exercise-induced inflammation in healthy volunteers. Data are mean ± SEM (n = 20). Different from baseline (t = 0) (NS, not significant; ** p<0.001, *** p<0.0001).
Figure 3.
Physical exercise is associated with liver damage.
Plasma L-FABP (A), ALT (B), AST (C), and alpha GST (D) suggest liver injury after cycling. Data are mean ± SEM (n = 20) of samples collected before, immediately after and 1 hour post cycling (* p<0.05, ** p<0.01, *** p<0.001).
Figure 4.
Physical exercise induces a mild increase in small intestinal permeability.
A) Urinary L/R ratios over time are elevated from baseline, especially in the first 2 hours after cycling, but not to a significant level. B) Plasma permeability analysis revealed an overall increase in small intestinal permeability after exercise compared to rest (P<0.001). Plasma L/R ratios after exercise at individual time points were not significantly different from L/R ratios in rest. C) Permeability of the large intestine, reflected by the 5–24 h urinary S/E ratio, remains unaltered during exercise. Data are mean ± SEM (n = 6). Different from baseline (t = 0) (NS, not significant; ** p<0.001).
Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the healthy male participants.