Long Covid Study Shows Valuable Insights For Cyclists

Director of Performance at Team UAE Inigo San Millan was part of a study surrounding long covid and it’s effects on the mitochondria.

Until now there has been zero studies done on the effects of long covid on the mitochondria which has been leaving much of the performance world doing guesswork. Inigo San Milan was part of a preliminary study called “Signatures of Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Impaired Fatty Acid Metabolism in Plasma of Patients with Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC)”

In this article we summarize the key take aways and explain how this might effect a riders performance.

One of the early findings in the study indicated that people with PASC (Post Acute Sars Covid ie; long covid) had higher free fatty acids. Free fatty acids are the major fat fuel in the body, and when they are elevated in the blood they are thought to raise the risk of cardiovascular disease by causing insulin resistance (in some cases leading to diabetes), raising blood pressure, and other effects.

The higher levels of plasma carnitine-conjugated and free fatty acids, especially poly- and highly unsaturated, as well as hydroxylated, fatty acids in PASC are consistent with the lower fatty acid oxidation capacity of mitochondria
Signatures of Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Impaired Fatty Acid Metabolism in Plasma of Patients with Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC)

This means that there is more free fat acids, and less ability to break it down. Which would present a variety of problems for serious athletes.

Of note, the accumulation of specific lipid classes in plasma (especially free and carnitine-conjugated fatty acids) was associated with erythrocyte dysfunction 8, which would, in turn, impair oxygen delivery to target organs and, therefore, decrease the oxidative processes necessary for fatty acid substrate utilization in mitochondria.
Signatures of Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Impaired Fatty Acid Metabolism in Plasma of Patients with Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC)

The study also states that long covid unoquically has negative effects on the bodies ability to metabolize lactate, and glycogen. Meaning, that the effects of long covid for endurance athletes could completely tank performance as everyone relies on their bodies ability to metabolize glycogen and lactate.

Although in that cohort, the CHOx capacity was slightly reduced, it was not significantly different from historic cohorts of healthy individuals. In the current study of PASC plasma obtained in resting individuals, compared to controls, we found significantly lower circulating levels of carboxylic acids (mono-, di- and tri-carboxylates). These changes are suggestive of impaired pyruvate/lactate metabolism, which may occur at the level of mitochondrial catabolism. Long considered a “dead-end” metabolic product of anaerobic metabolism (glycolysis) [34], lactate is an important substrate for oxidative metabolism, gluconeogenesis, muscle glycogenesis, and a regulator of FAtOx
Signatures of Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Impaired Fatty Acid Metabolism in Plasma of Patients with Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC)

It seems that much of these side effect shave been linked to the lower levels of Amino acids.

The lower levels of branched-chain amino acids leucine/isoleucine and valine is consistent with altered catabolism, perhaps as compensatory mechanism to overcome blockade in fatty acid oxidation.
Signatures of Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Impaired Fatty Acid Metabolism in Plasma of Patients with Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC)

Most of the side effects are said to last up to around 120 days as that is the lifetime of the red blood cells, however some have experienced longer term effects. While we are far from understanding all of the answers this study certainly does bring a lot of valuable information forward in the sports performance world for trainings, and athletes looking to regain their full ability again.

If you are interested in trying some branch chain amino acids to see if they help your performance come back from covid or long covid then we highly recommend the company that specialized in supplements for cyclists. Cyclist Supplements.

You can always check out the full study here at this link

https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/12/11/1026/htm