Exercise‐induced effects on the metabolome of endurance and strength‐trained athletes in comparison with sedentary subjects: A pilot study

Little is known about the exercise-induced adaptations of the metabolome in endurance and strength athletes in comparison with sedentary subjects. In order to analyze exercise-induced effects, quantitative, targeted metabolomics (Biocrates MxP® Quant 500) were performed in plasma samples before and after one bout of endurance or resistance exercise (RE) in 12 strength-trained weightlifters (ST), 10 endurance-trained runners (ET) and 12 sedentary controls (CG) at the end of each of three characteristic training phases. Performance and anthropometric data were significantly different between CG and athletes. A significant exercise-induced increase in lactate (Lac) was observed in all groups after all exercise tests. After endurance exercise (EE), there were significant increases in acetylcarnitine, arachidonic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid in CG and ET while aconitic acid, hippuric acid, glutamate, hexoses, xanthine were significantly increased in ET only. Only CG showed increases in several triglycerides following EE. RE, however, induced significant increases in Lac only. In summary, EE induces distinct increases in some metabolites of the fatty acid metabolism and the oxidative defense system in ET and CG. There are some indications for specific adaptations of the energy metabolism after long lasting endurance training with a distinct exercise-induced response of the metabolome in ET.