Abstract

The authors evaluated the change in body mass including fat mass and skeletal muscle mass in one ultracyclist whilst cycling 1,000 km in 48 hours at a constant intensity of 48% VO2max, corresponding to a heart rate frequency of 105 +/- 5 bpm. A 1kg fat mass decrease resulted, with the largest decrease occurring between the 12th and the 24th hour. No steady state in metabolism was observed and no regular decrease of subcutaneous adipose tissue resulted. This result is backed up by the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) urine analysis. Body water increase with simultaneous dehydration is possibly due to endocrine-induced renal water retention, in order to maintain metabolism processes that are required for energy supply and blood flow during very prolonged exercise. Both applied methods, the anthropometric and the bioelectrical impedance analysis, analyse fluid accumulation – especially in the skinfolds of the lower extremities – apparently incorrectly as an increase in body mass and not as an increase in fluids. Verf.-Referat (geändert)