MELBOURNE, June 16 (UPI) -- Extreme exercise can cause intestinal bacteria to leak into the bloodstream, leading to blood poisoning, according to a new study. But training properly for events can help the body prevent this from happening.
Two studies by researchers at Monash University showed that long-term, progressive training can prevent the body from going into sepsis under the conditions of extreme exercise events.
"Exercising in this way is no longer unusual - waiting lists for marathons, Ironman triathlon events and ultra-marathons are the norm, and they're growing in popularity," Dr. Ricardo Costa, from the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Monash University, said in a press release. "It's crucial that anyone who signs up to an event gets a health check first and builds a slow and steady training program, rather than jumping straight into a marathon, for example, with only a month's training."
Researchers found that over the course of 24-hour exercise events, participants' gut walls changed and allowed naturally present bacteria to leak into the bloodstream, triggering an anti-inflammatory response from the body. This response from the body can lead to sepsis-induced systemic inflammatory response syndrome, which can be fatal if it is not diagnosed and treated promptly.
Costa said that nearly all of the participants in the study showed evidence of sepsis when blood tests taken before the event were compared with one taken afterward, however the bodies of those who maintain steady diet and exercise regimens develop immune mechanisms to counteract it without any side effcts.
The studies are published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine and Exercise Immunology Reviews.
