Running IS bad for you! Marathon runners ‘at greater risk of fatal kidney disease’
The runners kidneys were failing to filter waste from the blood, classified as stage 1 Acute Kidney Injury
RUNNING marathons may increase the risk of developing fatal kidney disease, a study suggests.
More than eight in ten participants were found to have a serious kidney injury at the end of a race.
Researchers analysed blood and urine samples of 22 runners before and after a 26.2mile run.
It revealed 82 per cent had high levels of chemicals indicative of Stage 1 Acute Kidney Injury.
That is a condition in which the kidneys fail to filter waste from the blood.
Left untreated, it can affect the ability of other organs to work properly.
Experts say the sustained rise in core body temperature or dehydration may be to blame.
Decreased blood flow to the kidneys, which occurs during a marathon, could also be a factor.
The kidneys of those studied fully recovered after two days.
But researchers warn regularly running long distances may lead to long-term cumulative harm.
Study leader Professor Chirag Parikh, from Yale University, said the injuries in runners were comparable to those seen in hospital patients who experience post-operation complications.
He added: “It is possible that if there are repeated injuries to the kidneys from frequent participation in marathons, that short term reversible injury may eventually lead to long term permanent damage.
“This could happen in runners with risk factors of kidney disease such as diabetes, hypertension, older age groups or participants with established kidney disease.
“Participants with risk factors should work closely with their physicians or trainers if they have high risk of kidney disease progression.”
The study is published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
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