AUTHOR=Roeh Astrid , Holdenrieder Stefan , Schoenfeld Julia , Haeckert Jan , Halle Martin , Falkai Peter , Scherr Johannes , Hasan Alkomiet 

TITLE=Decreased Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Concentrations 72 Hours Following Marathon Running

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2021.668454

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2021.668454

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Physical exercise has been linked to beneficial effects on brain plasticity. One potential key mechanism for this relationship is an exercise-induced increase of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). However, the kinetics of BDNF in athletes during training phase, extreme exercise competition, and recovery period have not been investigated so far.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> We assessed serum BDNF concentrations in 51 marathon runners (23% female, mean age 43 years) in a longitudinal study design over a period of 6 months. Assessments were conducted during the training period before the marathon and after the marathon race during short-term (24 to 72 h) and long-term (3 months) follow-ups. Potential confounders (fitness level, sex, and platelet count) were included in subsequent linear-model analyses.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Linear mixed-model analyses revealed a main effect of time for BDNF concentrations over the study period (<italic>F</italic><sub>(4,89.389)</sub> = 4.296, <italic>p</italic> = 0.003). Values decreased significantly with the lowest values at 72 h after the marathon compared to baseline (<italic>p</italic> = 0.025), a finding that was more pronounced in the larger male cohort.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Prolonged exercise induces a significant decrease in serum BDNF concentration 72 h post-exercise. We assume that this observation is mainly driven by regenerative mechanisms and a higher muscular utilization.</p>