Association Between Exercise-Induced Hyperthermia and Intestinal Permeability: A Systematic Review

Overview

Journal Sports Med

Specialty Orthopedics

Date 2016 Dec 13

PMID 27943148

Citations 63

Authors

Washington Pires

Christiano E Veneroso

Samuel P Wanner

Diogo A S Pacheco

Gisele C Vaz

Fabiano T Amorim

Cajsa Tonoli

Danusa D Soares

Candido C Coimbra

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Prolonged and strenuous physical exercise increases intestinal permeability, allowing luminal endotoxins to translocate through the intestinal barrier and reach the bloodstream. When recognized by the immune system, these endotoxins trigger a systemic inflammatory response that may affect physical performance and, in severe cases, induce heat stroke. However, it remains to be elucidated whether there is a relationship between the magnitude of exercise-induced hyperthermia and changes in intestinal permeability.

Objective: In this systematic review, we evaluated whether an exercise-induced increase in core body temperature (T ) is associated with an exercise-induced increase in intestinal permeability.

Methods: The present systematic review screened the MEDLINE/PubMed and Web of Science databases in September 2016, without any date restrictions. Sixteen studies that were performed in healthy participants, presented original data, and measured both the exercise-induced changes in T and intestinal permeability were selected. These studies assessed intestinal permeability through the measurement of sugar levels in the urine and measurement of intestinal fatty acid binding protein or lipopolysaccharide levels in the blood.

Results: Exercise increased both T and intestinal permeability in most of the 16 studies. In addition, a positive and strong correlation was observed between the two parameters (r = 0.793; p < 0.001), and a T exceeding 39 °C was always associated with augmented permeability.

Conclusion: The magnitude of exercise-induced hyperthermia is directly associated with the increase in intestinal permeability.

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