Ibuprofen does not affect serum electrolyte concentrations following an ultradistance run

Charles L Dumke ^1*, David C Nieman ¹, Kevin Oley ¹ and Robert H Lind ²

¹ Appalachian State University, United States
² Western States Medical Director, United States

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: dumkecl{at}appstate.edu.

Accepted 7 February 2007

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effects of ibuprofen on serum electrolyte concentrations following a 160 km running race. Methods: Twenty nine subjects (47.9±1.4 yrs) ingested 600 mg of ibuprofen the day before, and 1200 mg ibuprofen during a 160 km competitive trail running race. Ibuprofen was taken every ~4 hrs in 200 mg doses. Control subjects (N=25, 46.8±2.1 yrs) avoided ingestion of ibuprofen before or during the race. Blood was drawn on the day before the race and immediately post- race. Serum chemistry profiles were analyzed by a clinical laboratory. Significant effects of treatment and time were determined with a General Linear Model with repeated measures.

Results: Subjects in the two groups did not differ by age, training volume, race experience, BMI, body fat, or finishing time (25.8±0.6 vs. 25.6±0.8 hr). Body weight did not change significantly from pre-race, mid-race (90 km), to post-race. Ibuprofen ingestion did not significantly affect any of the serum chemistries including creatine kinase (p=0.16). A significant decrease in serum sodium (p=0.006), potassium (p=0.001), chloride (p<0.001), calcium (p<0.001), albumin (p<0.001), and globulin (p<0.001) was observed following the ultradistance race. Increases were seen in creatine kinase (p<0.001), creatinine (p<0.001), blood urea nitrogen (p<0.001), uric acid (p<0.001), and glucose (p<0.001), as the result of the race.

Conclusions: These data suggest that the nonspecific COX inhibitor ibuprofen (1800 mg before and during) does not alter serum electrolytes during ultradistance running. However the stress of ultradistance running is related to significant changes in serum diagnostic chemistries.

Key Words: NSAID, hyponatremia, nonspecific COX inhibitors, prolonged exercise, ultraendurance

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