Changes of Cardiac Biomarkers after High-intensity Exercise in Male and Female Elite Athletes of Dragon Boating

This study investigated the effects of three sport-specific high-intensity training units on cardiac biomarker alteration in elite athletes of dragon boating. Thirty six male (age 33 ± 9) and twenty nine female (age 31 ± 8) elite athletes, members of the German national team, were examined in their final training camp preparing for world championship. At two time points blood panels (pre-training and one hour post-training) were collected and concentrations of high sensitive troponin T, N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), MB-creatine kinase (CKMB) and myoglobin were assessed. After exercise, serum levels of NT-pro BNP, CPK, myoglobin and CKMB increased significantly (P < 0.01 for each) with only few values exceeding the upper reference limits. High sensitive troponin T remained below the limit of detection both before and after exercise in all athletes. Significant gender-related differences were found with a higher increase of NT-pro BNP levels in female athletes (P < 0.01) compared to males. In contrast, male athletes displayed a significant higher increase of CPK (P < 0.01) and myoglobin (P < 0.01) compared to female athletes. In conclusion, three high-intensity training units did not lead to elevated high sensitive troponin T concentrations in elite athletes of dragon boating but to significant increases of NT-pro BNP, CPK and myoglobin levels. This suggests that high-intensity training units do not lead to a cardiac injury in these athletes.