Effects of physical training on plasma citrate and exercise-induced asthma

Abstract

Plasma citrate was determined in seven asthmatic children exposed to 6 min treadmill running before and after 6 weeks of physical training. Resting plasma citrate concentration increased from 116 ± 9 μmol/l (mean ± SE) before to 158± 11 μmol/l after training (P<0.02). Plasma lactate increase during exercise was lowered by training (P<0.02); the individual change correlated inversely with the training-induced rise in resting plasma citrate concentration (r = -0.77, P<0.05). The postexercise percentage fall in peak expiratory flow rate decreased from 32 ± 13 % before to 15 ± 8 % after training (P<0.05).

The results agree with the hypothesis that an increased citrate concentration of tissues, by inducing an inhibition of phosphofructokinase, may be of regulatory importance for the decreased lactate accumulation following endurance training in man. In addition, a beneficial effect of training on exercise-induced asthma is demonstrated.

Key Words:

• Citrate
• exercise
• free fatty acids
• lactate
• peak expiratory flow rate
• training