Peak blood ammonia and lactate after submaximal, maximal and supramaximal exercise in sprinters and long-distance runners.

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the difference in peak blood ammonia concentration between sprinters and long-distance runners in submaximal, maximal and supramaximal exercise. Five sprinters and six long-distance runners performed cycle ergometer exercise at 50% maximal, 75% maximal, maximal and supramaximal heart rates. Blood ammonia and lactate were measured at 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 12.5 min after each exercise. Peak blood ammonia concentration at an exercise intensity producing 50% maximal heart rate was found to be significantly higher compared to the basal level in sprinters (P less than 0.01) and in long-distance runners (P less than 0.01). The peak blood ammonia concentration of sprinters was greater in supra-maximal exercise than in maximal exercise (P less than 0.05), while there was no significant difference in long-distance runners. The peak blood ammonia content after supramaximal exercise was higher in sprinters compared with long-distance runners (P less than 0.01). There was a significant relationship between peak blood ammonia and lactate after exercise in sprinters and in long-distance runners. These results suggest that peak blood ammonia concentration after supramaximal exercise may be increased by the recruitment of fast-twitch muscle fibres and/or by anaerobic training, and that the processes of blood ammonia and lactate production during exercise may be strongly linked in sprinters and long-distance runners.