Marathon running ‘may lead to short-term kidney injury’

The physical stresses experienced by marathon runners may lead to short-term damage to the kidneys, according to new research.

A study from Yale University has cast light on this trend after studying a small group of participants in the 2015 Hartford Marathon, analysing blood and urine samples before and after the 26.2-mile event.

It was found that 82 percent of runners showed signs of stage 1 acute kidney injury, a condition in which the kidneys fail to filter waste from the blood, soon after the race, although the signs resolved themselves two days after the marathon.

Potential causes of the marathon-related kidney damage include the sustained rise in core body temperature, dehydration or decreased blood flow to the kidneys as a result of the physical strain.

Even though the impact was shown to be short-lived, the researchers said the conclusions raise questions about the longer-term effects of repeated strenuous activity, especially in warm climates, at a time when marathons are becoming more popular.

Chirag Parikh, professor of medicine at Yale University, said: "Research has shown there are also changes in heart function associated with marathon running. Our study adds to the story – even the kidney responds to marathon-related stress."

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