Cardiac biomarkers alterations in rapid weight loss and high-intensity training in judo athletes: a crossover pilot study.

Background: Studies evaluating alterations in cardiac biomarkers in rapid sport-associated weight loss (RWL) and high-intensity sport-specific training (HISST) are lacking. This pilot study aimed to examine the effects of RWL and HISST on heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac biomarkers, and left ventricular systolic function. Nine elite male judokas participated in the presented survey.

Methods: The athletes underwent a baseline assessment and two testing protocols, the first phase with RWL where they had to lose 5% of their body weight simultaneously with HISST, and the second phase after 7 days, in which only HISST was performed. Participants underwent electrocardiogram, biomarker, and transthoracic echocardiogram evaluation after each phase.

Results: In the first phase (RWL and HISST) athletes, heart rate increased significantly, 58.11 (7.78) versus 79 (9.25), P=0.001; as well as cardiac biomarkers: lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme 175.33 (31.22) vs. 238.56 (56), P=0.003; aspartate aminotransferase 16.56 (4.61) vs. 29 (9.96), P=0.027; creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB 13 (11.5;24) vs. 29.11 (10.05), P=0.004; and high sensitivity cardiac troponin 10 (0) vs. 14.49 (6.4), P=0.045. In the second phase, only HISST was associated with a significant increase in the alanine aminotransferase isoenzyme, 37.78 (11.22) vs. 26 (8.03), P=0.024, together with creatine kinase 472 (185;654) vs. 166.88 (56.57), P=0.01, compared to the initial measurement.

Conclusions: RWL combined with HISST produced significant alterations in cardiac biomarkers without impairment of left ventricular systolic function.