Ultramarathon Running Damages Red Blood Cells Through Inflammation and Oxidation
Can Extreme Endurance Running Damage Your Blood Cells?
Yes. A study of 23 trail runners found that ultramarathon races of 40 km and 171 km caused significant damage to red blood cells through inflammation and oxidative stress. The cells became less flexible and showed signs of accelerated aging after the races.
Red blood cells are the tiny disc-shaped cells that carry oxygen from your lungs to every part of your body. They need to be flexible enough to squeeze through the smallest blood vessels. When these cells get damaged or stiff, they cannot do their job as well. This study looked at what happens to these cells when runners push their bodies to the extreme, and the findings raise important questions about how much exercise is too much.