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Is There Evidence for the Development of Sex-Specific Guidelines for Ultramarathon Coaches and Athletes? A Systematic Review

Sports Medicine - Open volume 9, Article number: 6 (2023) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

There is evidence of sex differences in the physiology of endurance exercise, yet most of the advice and guidelines on training, racing, nutrition, and recovery for ultramarathons are based on research that has largely excluded female athletes. The objective was therefore to review the current knowledge of sex differences in ultramarathon runners and determine if sufficient evidence exists for providing separate guidelines for males and females.

Methods

This systematic review was carried out in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Three databases were searched for studies investigating differences in elite and recreational male and female ultramarathon runners. Studies were included if they compared males and females and looked at outcomes relating to the performance or health of ultramarathon runners. The quality of the included studies was determined using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

Results

The search strategy identified 45 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were observational in design, with only three papers based on randomised controlled trials. The overall quality of the evidence was low. Sex differences in the predictors of ultramarathon performance; physiological responses to training, racing, and recovery; chronic and acute health issues; and pacing strategies were found. There were areas with contradictory findings, and very few studies examined specific interventions.

Conclusion

The results from this review suggest that the development of sex-specific guidelines for ultramarathon coaches and athletes could have a significant effect on the performance and health of female runners. At present, there is insufficient high-quality evidence on which to formulate these guidelines, and further research is required.

Key Points

  1. 1.

    Sex differences in ultramarathon runners have been demonstrated in a number of areas including the predictors of performance, fatigue resistance, susceptibility to injury and illness, and oxidative stress. This indicates that sex-specific approaches to race preparation and recovery could benefit female ultramarathon runners.

  2. 2.

    The evidence base comprises mostly of observational studies, and the level of evidence is generally low. The lack of experimental studies, relatively low number of female subjects, and the heterogeneity inherent in ultramarathon race formats makes it difficult to draw conclusions. Thus, it is not currently possible to formulate evidence-based, sex-specific guidelines for ultramarathon runners. Further interventional studies are required to examine sex differences in the physiological responses to different training, nutrition, and recovery modalities. Furthermore, the effects of these interventions during different phases of the menstrual cycle should be elucidated. Future research should also compare males with both pre- and post-menopausal females, as it is likely that female sex hormones significantly influence many study outcomes. Such research could guide the development of guidelines that could optimise female athlete performance and health.

Introduction

Ultramarathons are running races involving distances greater than a marathon (> 42.195 km). Race formats vary widely, and races may take place on a variety of terrains including roads, trails, running tracks, and mountains. The popularity of these events has increased exponentially in the past three decades, including a significant increase in female participation [1]. Many female athletes have excelled at the sport, with some winning races outright, and this has sparked considerable interest and debate regarding the possibility that females hold a physiological advantage in ultraendurance sports [2, 3].

Ultramarathon performance is influenced by a complex interaction between various physiological and psychological factors [4, 17]. These include oxidative capacity, running economy, substrate utilisation, fatigue resistance, gastrointestinal function, motivational factors, pacing, nutrition, pain perception, age, and experience, [4,5,6,7,8,9, 17]. In recent decades, increasing evidence of sex-dependent differences in many of these variables has emerged [2, 10,11,12,13,14, 17]. Furthermore, the influence that these variables have on performance is likely to be mediated by sex, as different predictors of ultramarathon performance have been found in males and females [15, 16].

Despite this increasing recognition of the sex differences in ultramarathon running, the majority of research into health and performance interventions in endurance athletes has been carried out in males [2, 10, 13]. A recent study of papers published in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism (APNM) between 1993 and 2021 found that, of 2547 papers, only 11% identified females as the primary intervention group [11]. Furthermore, only 35% of papers included both males and females, and only 10% of papers included sex in bivariate analyses [11]. The reasons behind this are likely complex and varied, including traditional attitudes and societal norms regarding females’ place in sport, and the added work and cost involved in controlling for variations in sex hormones associated with the menstrual cycle [18]. Additionally, it has been posited that sex differences in psychology result in males being more willing to participate in exercise and sports science research, contributing to their greater representation in the literature [19]. However, it is not known to what degree this increased willingness reflects biological or social influences on psychology. Regardless of the reason, the outcome is the same: female athletes have been following advice and guidelines regarding training, nutrition, and recovery that are based on studies that have largely excluded their sex [18].

Given the aforementioned sex differences, it is possible that the performance of female ultrarunners has not been enhanced by advances in scientific knowledge to the same degree as males. Moreover, there may be undesirable health consequences of following this overgeneralised approach. For example, research in male athletes has shown potential benefits of endurance training in a fasted or low carbohydrate availability state on measures such as mitochondrial density and lipid oxidation rates [20]. This contributed to the popularity of becoming “fat-adapted” among ultramarathon runners, an approach to nutrition and training which aims to improve the body’s ability to oxidise fat, sparing muscle glycogen and delaying fatigue. However, subsequent research has shown that within-day energy deficits, such as those involved in fasted training, are associated with clinical markers of metabolic and menstrual disturbances in female endurance athletes [21].

There is currently a paucity of sex-specific guidelines for ultramarathon runners and their coaches. This could be disadvantaging female athletes from a performance perspective, and undermining their health. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to summarise the current knowledge of sex differences in ultramarathon runners and determine if sufficient evidence exists for providing separate guidelines for males and females.

A Note on Sex and Gender

Within this text, the terms “male”, “female”, “man/males”, and “woman/females” will be used to refer to sex, not gender. It is important to distinguish the differences between the terms “sex” and “gender”, which have historically been conflated within the literature [11]. Sex refers to the biological attributes of an individual, the physical and physiological features determined by genetics and hormone function, which are generally classified as female or male [22]. In contrast, gender is a social construct and relates to the roles, behaviours, and identities that an individual fulfils in society [22]. Gender exists on a spectrum and does not necessarily concur with the biological sex of an individual. As mentioned, the terms have been inappropriately used interchangeably when reporting scientific findings regarding biological sex differences. Thus, to prevent the exclusion of potentially relevant studies, both terms were used in the search strategy outlined in the methods.

Methods

A systematic review was carried out in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guidelines [23]. The methods were specified in advance and documented in a detailed protocol.

Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion criteria:

  • Participants: Male and female ultrarunners (defined as individuals who have completed a race > 42.2 km) aged 18 years and above, who compete or participate in single-day or multi-day events.

  • Interventions: Training, nutrition, racing, or recovery strategies. Observational studies with no intervention were also included.

  • Comparisons: Males versus females.

  • Outcomes: Injury and/or illness rates, performance (time to complete a given distance, ability to complete a race, race placing, average running speed, pacing across a given distance), and physiological parameters.

  • Publication characteristics: Primary research published in the English language, or with an English translation.

Exclusion criteria:

  • Races which also include cycling, swimming, or any other sport.

  • Races ≤ 42.2 km.

Search Strategy for Identification of Studies

The following electronic databases were searched on 27 September 2021: PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Scopus. In addition to this, the citations list for each study and any reviews identified from the database searches were reviewed to identify other relevant papers. The search terms and combinations used were as follows:

(“ultramarathon*" OR “ultra-running” OR “ultra-marathon*” OR "ultra-endurance running" OR “ultrarunning" OR “ultrarunner*" OR “ultra-runner*" OR "ultrarun*" OR “ultra trail*”).

AND (“sex” OR “gender” OR "sex factor*" OR "sex specific" OR “sex-specific” OR "sex difference*" OR "gender difference*" OR "sex-based difference*")

AND (“physiology” OR “metabolism” OR “nutrition” OR “diet*” OR “fuel*” OR “train*” OR "endurance train*" OR “recover*” OR "race strategy" OR “racing” OR “performance” OR “illness” OR “injur*” OR “health”)

Screening: Studies identified in the search were screened according to a two-step process. First the titles and abstracts were reviewed and articles that either clearly did not meet the inclusion criteria or met any of the exclusion criteria were removed. Secondly, the full texts of all remaining studies were reviewed with further exclusions made accordingly.

Quality Assessment

Study quality was assessed in accordance with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework [24].

Results

Study Selection

The searches produced a total of 392 records. After duplicates were removed, there were 159 records remaining. The abstracts of these records were then screened, and 80 records were excluded. The full texts of the remaining 79 records were assessed for eligibility, with 39 studies identified as eligible. Six studies were identified from additional sources, including five from the citations lists of other eligible studies, and one via correspondence with an author. Therefore, a total of 45 studies were included in this review. A diagram summarising this process can be seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Summary of search strategy

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Study Characteristics

The study population, methods, and relevant findings from each of the included studies are summarised in Tables 1–8. The studies have been grouped into eight categories depending on their primary outcome measures. The number of studies in each of the eight categories are as follows: (I) predictors of performance—6 studies, (II) immune and oxidative stress—6 studies, (III) neuromuscular fatigue and cognition—3 studies, (IV) cardiopulmonary physiology—5 studies, (V) other physiology—3 studies, (VI) chronic health and lifestyle factors—4 studies, (VII) training or race-related illness and injury—12 studies, and (VIII) pacing strategy—6 studies.

Studies included in this review were methodologically varied; however, the vast majority were observational, with only three randomised controlled trials (RCTs) being included. This reflects the body of the literature on ultramarathons, where RCTs are rare [25]. Of the observational studies, there were 29 cohort studies, 10 cross-sectional studies, and 3 retrospective data analyses.

The quality of included studies reflects the preponderance of observational designs and small sample sizes. Despite this review selecting studies that compared males and females, females only comprised 35.1%, 27.2%, 50.7%, 36%, 21.3%, 27%, and 12.1% of subjects in the studies in categories I, II, III, IV, V, VI, and VIII, respectively. Due to the lack of reporting of the sex distribution of subjects for several of the studies in category VII, it was not possible to determine the overall proportion of females in this group. Hence, the evidence from 42 studies was graded as low quality, and only the three included RCTs were graded as providing high-quality evidence.

Main Findings

Predictors of Performance

Six studies investigated sex differences in the physiological predictors of ultramarathon performance in 228 subjects, 80 of whom were female (Table 1) [15, 16, 26,27,28,29]. These studies looked at a wide range of parameters, including limb strength, cardiopulmonary function, body composition, and substrate utilisation. Five of the six studies found sex differences in the predictors of performance. Martinez-Navarro et al. found that mean inspiratory pressure was correlated with performance in males only (r = − 0.576, p = 0.010) [28]. In females, the Leg Qindex was the only variable that correlated with performance (r = − 0.607, p = 0.028) [28]. In another paper, Martinez-Navarro et al. reported that Vpeak, or the top speed measured during treadmill cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), and maximal fat oxidation rate (MFO) together explained 66% of the variation in 107 km race time in males [16]. Conversely, in females, the V̇O2max alone accounted for 69% of race time variation [16]. When athletes involved in a shorter race were studied, Vpeak and V̇O2max correlated with performance in both males and females [29]. Another study by O’Loughlin et al. reported that age, BMI, average training speed, and years of running experience were related to ultramarathon performance in males, but not females, and females’ performance was predicted by training volume and personal best times in shorter races [15]. Of the four studies examining anthropomorphic measures, one found an association between body fat percentage and running speed in males only, and two found a similarly male-only relationship between performance and BMI, while the final study found no link in either sex [15, 26, 27, 29].

Table 1 Predictors of performance
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Immune Function and Oxidative Stress

Six papers reported on sex differences in immune function and/or oxidative stress in response to ultramarathons (Table 2) [30,31,32,33,34,35]. Nieman et al. found that female athletes (n = 9) had lower secretion rates of salivary IgA pre- and post-race, but there was no difference in the incidence of post-race upper respiratory tract infections [30]. Three papers reported on the effects of six weeks of antioxidant (AO) supplementation pre-ultramarathon [31,32,33]. Females were found to have higher levels of DNA damage post-race compared to males, but AO supplementation reduced this by 62% [31]. In contrast, there was no effect of AO supplementation on cellular DNA damage in males [31]. AO supplementation was found to inhibit rises in F2IsoPs, a marker of lipid peroxidation, in both sexes, but there were differences seen post-race in the placebo arm [33]. Male athletes’ F2IsoP levels remained elevated for 6 days, whereas female athletes’ levels returned to normal within 2 h. Another marker of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA), was significantly higher in males than females at 48 h post-race, with females demonstrating higher levels of carbonyl groups (CG), indicating greater protein oxidation [35]. Two studies looked at antioxidant repair systems and found no sex differences [34, 35]. Changes to inflammatory markers and muscle damage were also shown to be similar in males and females [32, 34].

Table 2 Immune function and oxidative stress
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Neuromuscular Fatigue and Cognition

Two studies investigated sex differences in neuromuscular fatigue (Table 3), with both finding that female runners demonstrate less peripheral fatigue in the plantar flexors [36, 37]. No sex differences were seen in peripheral fatigue of the knee extensors or central fatigue, although males did have higher ratings for general fatigue in races < 60 km long [36, 37].

Table 3 Neuromuscular fatigue and cognition
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Wollseiffen et al. examined the effects of ultrarunning on cognition, brain activity, and mood and found that females reported significantly higher ratings of flow (a state of feeling fully immersed in an activity) than male runners [38]. There were no effects of ultramarathons on cognitive performance, mood, or brain activity in either sex [38].

Cardiopulmonary Physiology

Four studies utilised echocardiography (ECHO) to examine cardiac changes in response to ultramarathons (Table 4) [39,40,41,42]. One of these studies also employed transthoracic ultrasound to detect the presence of lung comet tails (an indicator of pulmonary oedema) and measured various blood biomarkers associated with cardiac, renal, and skeletal muscle function [42]. Concerning ECHO changes, the results were heterogeneous. One study reported no significant sex differences in the cardiac response to either a 100 km or 160 km ultramarathon [41]. In contrast, two studies involving shorter distances (55 km or 70 km) reported a lower incidence of ECHO changes indicative of cardiac fatigue in females [39, 40]. Tiller et al. measured stroke volume and cardiac output before and after a 171 km race and reported the only significant change to be an increase in cardiac output in females [42].

Table 4 Cardiopulmonary physiology
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This study investigated the frequency of pre- to post-race physiological perturbations in race time-matched males and females and found that participation in ultramarathon resulted in biomarker derangement, decrements in pulmonary function, and the development of lung comet tails on ultrasound in both groups. However, only the male group demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in lung diffusing capacities and pulmonary capillary blood volume [42]. Additionally, the frequency and effect size of alterations in biomarkers and lung comet tails were smaller in the female cohort [42]. Martinez-Navarro et al. used spirometry to assess pulmonary function throughout a 107 km mountain ultramarathon and found the only measure differing between males and females to be a greater decline in FEV1/FVC ratio in females [43].

Other Physiology

Three papers reported on physiological parameters outside of the sub-topics covered above (Table 5) [45,46,47]. One looked at changes in creatine kinase (CK) and the relationship between CK and sodium following a 161 km ultramarathon and found no significant sex differences [45]. Another study measured biomarkers of liver injury following a similarly long ultramarathon and also found no difference between male and female runners [46]. The third study, involving a 90 km road ultramarathon, looked at a variety of physiological markers and reported that females sustained a higher fraction of their V̇O2max throughout the race, and had significantly lower plasma free fatty acids (FFA) post-race compared with males [47]. There were no significant sex differences in serum glucose or osmolality [47].

Table 5 Other physiological measures
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Chronic Health Issues/Lifestyle Factors

Four studies examined the sex differences in chronic health and lifestyle factors affecting ultramarathon runners (Table 6) [48,49,50,51]. Female ultrarunners were found to have higher rates of hypothyroidism and sleep disorders and were more likely to take supplements [48, 49]. When compared to the general population, female runners were shown to have more regular bowel motions [50]. A negative correlation was found between training volume and ferritin levels in both males and females [50]. Although female ultrarunners were more likely to have a history of bone stress injury, a greater proportion of males returned Z scores < 1 following DEXA scanning [51]. Female ultrarunners were more likely to have a BMI < 18.5 kg/m2, an elevated risk of eating disorders, and a moderate triad cumulative risk score. There was no difference in the percentage of males and females returning a high-risk score on this measure [51].

Table 6 Chronic health issues/lifestyle factors
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Training or Race-Related Illness and Injury

Of the twelve studies examining illness and injury incurred as a direct result of running, eleven measured rates over one event, and one looked at injury incidence across 12 months (Table 7) [52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63]. There was no difference in the overall rate of exercise-related injuries across a 12-month period; however, female athletes suffered a disproportionate number of stress fractures [52]. Females were more likely to encounter medical illness during a race, with one study demonstrating four times the risk of developing an AKI during a multi-stage ultramarathon compared to males [53, 54]. One study found that males were significantly more likely to report a history of heat-related illness and muscle cramps, and to experience heat-related symptoms during an ultramarathon [55]. However, another study reported similar rates of exercise-associated muscle cramps in males and females [56]. When overall race-related injury and illness rates were examined, there was no significant difference between the sexes [53, 57].

Table 7 Training or race-related illness and injury
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Six studies investigated sex differences in sodium and fluid balance during ultramarathons [58,59,60,61,62,63]. Despite females having a higher water intake in one study, and a significant decrease in haematocrit in another, no statistically significant differences in hyponatraemia incidence were found [58,59,60,61,62,63].

Pacing Strategy

There were conflicting findings among the 6 studies investigating pacing strategies (Table 8) [9, 64,65,66,67,68]. Three studies found no significant sex differences in the pacing strategies employed during ultramarathons [65,66,67]. Two studies reported more even pacing in females, while the final study found higher pace variation among the female athletes [9, 64, 68]. Despite these heterogeneous results, the studies were in agreement regarding the benefit of more even pacing, which was shown to be associated with better race times in both sexes [9, 64,65,66,67,68].

Table 8 Pacing
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Discussion

This purpose of this review was to determine if significant sex differences in ultramarathon runners exist, which could justify the development of separate guidelines for males and females. While the overall quality of evidence from the included studies is low, by pooling the results, coherence in some areas has emerged. Evidence of sex differences in ultramarathon runners was identified in the predictors of performance, the physiological responses to racing, and the risk of acute and chronic illness and injury. Areas where no sex differences were found included cognitive performance, central fatigue, and overall injury rates. However, given the predominance of low-quality evidence, confidence in this evidence is also low, and these results should be interpreted with caution. Presently, a personalised approach based on the individual’s responses to training, racing, nutrition, and recovery interventions is recommended.

Areas Where Evidence of Sex Differences Exists

See Fig. 2.

Fig. 2
figure 2

Areas where evidence of sex differences exists

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Predictors of Performance

There is reasonable evidence that ultramarathon performance is differently predicted in males and females [15, 16, 26–29]. This is important as it could translate into different training priorities for each sex. For example, a strong correlation between ankle rebound performance and female ultramarathon performance was demonstrated by Martinez-Navarro et al. [28] Conversely, mean inspiratory pressure was correlated to performance in males only [28]. Indeed, there is evidence that females have superior fatigue resistance of the respiratory muscles, indicating that this may be less of a performance limiting factor than in males [69]. While these findings may imply that males and females would benefit from targeting different variables in training, this is a single study with a small sample size. Furthermore, the method employed for measuring inspiratory pressure is largely dependent on the effort imparted by the subject and these results may therefore represent differences in motivation, rather than respiratory muscle strength and fatiguability. Therefore, larger studies utilising respiratory muscle nerve stimulation techniques are required before conclusions can be drawn.

Significant sex differences were also found when anthropomorphic variables were examined [15, 26, 27, 29]. Several studies found that BMI and body composition correlated with ultramarathon performance in males, but not in females [15, 26, 29]. Furthermore, while Martinez-Navarro et al. found that body composition correlated to performance in both sexes, this relationship did not persist after multiple regression analysis [16]. Conversely, much larger studies of runners engaging in races of half marathon distance and below have found that body composition is predictive of performance in males and females [70, 71]. Thus, it is possible that the association between body composition and performance becomes less important for female runners as race length increases. However, given the small sample sizes and the high probability that females participating in studies of extreme endurance events are not representative of the wider female ultrarunning community, it is not possible to draw conclusions at this time.

The classic physiological measures of fitness that predict performance also differ between males and females. In one study of runners completing a 107 km race, performance was independently predicted by MFO and Vpeak in males, but only by V̇O2max in females [16]. This implies that high-intensity training targeting V̇O2max improvements could optimise female performance, whereas males may benefit from more sustained efforts to improve fatigue resistance and fat oxidation rates. However, as these studies only provide evidence of correlation of these physiological measures and performance, this hypothesis needs to be tested. Studies investigating the sex differences in response to varying ultramarathon training stimuli would provide useful and practical insights for ultramarathon coaches and their athletes.

In summary, there is currently low-level evidence that male and female ultramarathon performance is predicted by different variables, but this area of research needs significant development before these findings can be used to guide training priorities.

Fatigue

During demanding physical pursuits such as ultramarathons, fatigue affects many body systems and can strongly influence performance [72]. This review found evidence that females experience less peripheral and cardiac fatigue than males in ultramarathons, which could confer an advantage in longer races, and influence training plan design [36, 37, 39, 40]. Indeed, the performance gap between males and females does appear to decrease with increasing race length [73]. This review included two small cohort studies which examined muscle fatigue in relative performance-matched, female and male ultramarathon runners. The female runners demonstrated less peripheral fatigue of the plantar flexors and smaller decrements in knee extensor maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) following ultramarathon races [36, 37]. This is in agreement with studies in non-athlete populations, and could be due to several factors including differences in muscle fibre type, and less accumulation of anaerobic metabolites involved in inhibitory feedback loops [2, 17, 74, 75].

Females also demonstrated reduced exercise-induced cardiac fatigue (EICF) in races under 100 km [39, 40]. EICF is characterised by a reduction in left ventricular systolic and diastolic function following prolonged, strenuous activity [41]. A propensity for less EICF could not only imply a female advantage in ultramarathon racing, but could also have implications for the long-term cardiac effects of ultramarathon training [76]. The reason for this relative fatigue resistance in females is not known; however, given the protective effects of oestrogen on the myocardium, it is likely that sex hormones play a role [76]. This could be investigated by comparing EICF in post-menopausal and premenopausal females in future studies.

It should be noted that an alternative explanation for the apparent superior “fatigue resistance” of female athletes exists. It has been suggested that male and female athletes approach ultramarathon races with different competition intentions which could explain the greater fatigue often reported in males [17]. For example, in Besson et al.’s study, females reported greater motivation to enjoy races < 60 km, whereas males were more competitively oriented, although no sex differences were found for races > 100 km [17]. This competitive orientation could result in males tapping into their “security reserves” more than females, resulting in greater decrements in force production capacities.[17]. Indeed, a survey of 344 female recreational ultramarathon runners found that females rated personal achievement and physical health as greater motivators than competition [77]. However, it is likely that motivational factors also vary significantly between recreational “weekend warriors” and top ultramarathon athletes competing for prize money [78]. Regardless of whether physiological or motivational factors underlie the findings, the examined literature suggests that males experience more peripheral and cardiac fatigue than females which could impact the design of training plans with regard to planning recovery.

Pacing

It is possible that interactions exist between the aforementioned relative fatigue resistance in females, and pacing strategies utilised during races [2]. This could provide useful information for coaches and athletes planning racing strategies. Tiller et al. postulate that females may be better able to maintain running pace as a consequence of less peripheral muscular fatigue [2]. However, the findings of this review were mixed. While three studies looking at 24 h time-limited marathons failed to find sex differences in pacing strategies, females demonstrated more even pacing over the 100 km World Masters Championship race and a relatively flat 100 mile race [64,65,66,67,68]. Conversely, females had greater pace variation during the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, a mountain ultramarathon involving 10,000 m vertical gain [9]. Given that males have greater muscle mass relative to fat mass, it has been suggested that they may be better able to maintain pace going uphill and hence have less pace variation on mountainous terrain [9]. However, the link between body composition and pacing remains speculative at this stage, and the relationship between race format and terrain and sex differences in pacing requires further examination.

Health

As with the wider population, the health concerns most commonly affecting athletes can differ according to sex [79]. This review found this to be true in ultramarathon runners. For example, female ultramarathon runners were found to report higher rates of sleep disorders, have greater rates of bone stress injuries, and be more at risk of eating disorders [49,50,51]. These findings should be considered when designing training and recovery programmes for females.

Sleep plays an important role in performance, injury rates, inflammation, and recovery [49]. While only one study in this review examined sleep disorder prevalence, it had a reasonably sized female cohort (n = 95) and the findings are supported by larger studies in both ultramarathon runners and general populations [49, 80,81,82]. A meta-analysis of 29 studies found that females were 40% more likely to suffer from insomnia than males [82]. However, these studies largely relied on self-reported measures of sleep. A recent paper on sleep in junior endurance athletes found that females had worse subjective sleep quality, but objectively achieved higher total sleep time and greater sleep efficiency [83]. Thus, it is unclear if the preponderance of self-reported sleep disorders in female ultrarunners represents an objectively worse quality of sleep which could impact training and recovery. Interestingly, in the aforementioned study, objective sleep quality was influenced by different stages of the menstrual cycle, which could indicate variable recovery requirements for female athletes across the cycle [83]. This premise needs further development, and studies on the effect of the menstrual cycle and sleep in ultramarathon runners do not yet exist. However, given the widely acknowledged important role sleep plays in athletic recovery, it is reasonable to conclude that all ultramarathon runners, irrespective of sex, would benefit from interventions to improve sleep [84].

The greater rate of bone stress injuries (BSIs) in female ultrarunners is significant because injuries that relate to poor bone health are associated with osteoporosis and fragility fractures in older age [51, 52]. Moreover, female ultramarathon runners have an elevated risk of eating disorders and the athlete triad [51]. While low energy availability negatively affects all athletes, the consequences for females are more rapid, and even within-day deficits affect menstrual function and bone turnover [21, 85]. Interestingly, in the study by Høeg et al., male ultramarathon athletes were in fact more likely to have low bone mineral density than females, and further research is required to confirm this finding [51]. The same study found that over half of the female cohort, and none of the males, had below normal levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [51]. There is evidence that vitamin D supplementation may be protective against BSIs in athletic populations, and a recent review has suggested this approach in athletes with low serum levels [17]. Professionals working with female athletes should be aware of these findings, as a failure to address disordered eating practices, and/or the prescription of excessive training loads, could have severe short- and long-term effects on performance and health. Additionally, assessing serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and supplementing those who are deficient appears to be especially important for female ultrarunners.

The studies included in this review found that, during multi-day ultramarathons, female runners were more likely to encounter a medical illness, and one study identified a four-fold increase in rates of acute kidney injury (AKI) [53, 54]. The reasons for these findings are not currently known, and further studies are needed to confirm this female propensity for illness and clarify the nature of illnesses encountered. Furthermore, while increases in serum creatinine (such as in AKI) are extremely common following an ultramarathon, renal function rapidly normalises in most individuals without clinical consequence [7, 86]. However, hospitalisations for renal failure, while rare, do occur among ultramarathon runners, and the long-term effects of repeated insults to renal function in this setting are not yet known [87]. It is therefore unclear what relevance this finding has for female ultramarathon runners.

Ultramarathons often take place in challenging environments, including extreme heat, and sex differences have been found in issues such as heat-related illness and muscle cramps [88]. Understanding an athlete’s ability to train and perform in the heat may be important for choosing goal races and planning training schedules and heat acclimatisation strategies. This review included two studies examining this issue. A study of 49 ultramarathon runners found no association between sex and the incidence of muscle cramping during a 56 km road race in Cape Town [56]. In contrast, a larger study of over 3000 athletes competing in a trail ultramarathon on Reunion Island found a higher incidence of heat-related symptoms and muscle cramps in males [55]. These disparate results could be due to the different climates in which the studied races took place, with Reunion Island having significantly higher average temperatures than Cape Town in the months that the races were held. It is also possible that the first study was underpowered to detect a difference given the smaller subject numbers. Females have demonstrated more efficient heat dissipation via sweat evaporation than males, and a greater ability to maintain their core temperature in hot and humid environments [88, 89, 91]. However, these data are not specific to ultraendurance exercise and research in ultramarathon runners is required to determine if these findings hold true under the conditions experienced by this population.

Ultrarunning is a significant source of oxidative stress, and there is robust evidence of increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals following ultramarathon races [31, 35]. ROS are thought to regulate acute-phase inflammatory responses, and could therefore affect ultramarathon performance and recovery [35, 92]. This review found that the oxidative response to ultramarathons is influenced by sex, with females demonstrating significantly higher levels of protein peroxidation indicators and cellular DNA damage following an ultramarathon [35, 36]. Moreover, females showed a greater response to antioxidant supplementation on minimising DNA damage [35]. While this may seem beneficial, studies have shown that long-term AO supplementation can impair adaptation to endurance training [93,94,95]. Unfortunately, most of these studies have been carried out on male subjects. However, one study included only female runners and found that vitamin C supplementation was associated with a slowing of running speeds during training, although no effect on 5 km time trial performance was seen [96]. Thus, while AO supplementation may have a greater effect on reducing oxidative stress in females, the implications of this are unclear [97]. More studies examining the long-term effects of AO supplementation on health and performance are required before conclusions can be drawn.

Areas Where There Is No Evidence of Sex Differences

See Fig. 3.

Fig. 3
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Areas with no evidence of sex-differences

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Predictors of Performance

While most studies in this review found sex differences in the predictors of ultramarathon performance, there were several areas where male and female performance was similarly predicted. For example, while Martinez-Navarro et al. found that V̇O2max was predictive of female 107 km ultramarathon performance only, in a shorter 50 km race, V̇O2max and Vpeak were related to performance in both sexes [16, 29]. Given the significant difference in the lengths of these races, these conflicting findings are perhaps unsurprising and could be due to physiological demands changing as race length increases. For example, females may have a lesser propensity to experience fatigue of the myocardium, respiratory musculature, and skeletal muscles, and these factors could be less limiting to performance compared with males [36, 37, 39, 40, 69]. Consequently, maximal oxygen uptake may become less important for males as distance increases and other systems fatigue. Further studies looking at sex differences over a variety of race distances are needed to clarify how the physiological predictors of performance relate to race duration.

Training volume is another predictor of performance which is potentially shared by the sexes, but the research on this is inconclusive [27]. While Citarella et al. found a strong association between training volume and record 100 km time in males and females, their sample consisted of only 10 elite athletes [27]. In contrast, O’Loughlin et al. studied recreational athletes running a 62 km ultramarathon and found that training volume was predictive of female performance only [15]. It is likely that the influence of training volume on performance varies according to race distance. Additionally, it is possible that different variables predict performance in elite runners, compared with recreational runners, and this is another area which warrants further investigation.

Fatigue

While females are considered more fatigue-resistant than males in general, this review found several areas where no sex difference was found. Firstly, there were no differences in measurements of central fatigue, brain cortical activity, mood states, and cognitive performance both during and after ultramarathon participation [36, 38]. Secondly, although males demonstrated greater peripheral fatigue of the plantar flexors, there were no sex differences in peripheral fatigue of the knee extensors [36, 37]. Temesi et al. postulate that this discrepancy may be explained by greater Achilles tendon compliance in females, which has been associated with superior maintenance of work output and greater mechanical efficiency of the soleus in rat models [36]. However, this association has not been replicated in human subjects and remains speculative at this stage. Additionally, despite evidence of greater decrements in contractile function in males relative to females, this did not translate into differences in the energy cost of running [37]. This may be because the sex differences in neuromuscular fatigue are not large enough to affect running economy [37]. It is therefore unclear what relevance these findings have for ultramarathon training and, as only one study looked at this relationship, these findings require confirmation.

Lastly, while sex differences in EICF were demonstrated in shorter ultramarathon races, none were found in races of 100 km and 160 km [39,40,41]. This could be related to the lower exercise intensity that is maintained in longer races. However, due to the small female cohorts studied, this research should be interpreted with caution. Larger studies including intensity-matched males and females are required to further investigate sex differences in EICF. Furthermore, research into the long-term consequences of repeated bouts of EICF is required before the relevance of these findings can be discussed further.

Health

Similar overall injury rates were found in males and females by all three studies examining the topic [52, 53, 57]. One study found that approximately 65% of ultramarathon runners had experienced a running-related injury in the preceding 12 months [52]. The other two studies examined injuries encountered during a race and found no association between sex and musculoskeletal, or skin-related problems [53, 57]. These findings are in agreement with research into runners in general. A recent meta-analysis found that while females are more likely to sustain BSIs, and males are more likely to be affected by Achilles tendinopathies, overall injury rates are the same [98].

Female sex has been reported as a risk factor for exercise-associated hyponatraemia (EAH), which most commonly results from overconsumption of hypotonic fluids [97]. However, where studies on ultramarathon runners are concerned, the majority failed to find a significant increase in the rates of EAH in females [58,59,60]. Two studies reported higher rates in females which failed to reach statistical significance, and one study actually demonstrated higher rates in males [59, 61, 62]. Thus, it seems unlikely that female ultramarathon runners are at a significantly greater risk of EAH. Nevertheless, there is a risk of over-drinking during races if females are not given individualised hydration guidelines based on body weight and sweat rates. Additionally, there are significant fluctuations in core temperature across the menstrual cycle, and elevations in oestradiol and progesterone are associated with fluid retention and greater sodium loss [13, 98]. These cyclical changes could confound the data, and further research on the effects of sex on sodium balance should account for hormonal fluctuations.

In terms of oxidative stress resulting from ultramarathon racing, AO supplementation effectively prevented rises in markers of lipid peroxidation in both sexes, and there were no differences found in antioxidant repair systems [31, 33]. Furthermore, when looking at markers of inflammation and muscle damage following ultramarathons, either with or without AO supplementation, no sex differences were found [33, 45]. Therefore, the significance of sex similarities and differences in oxidative stress is unclear at present.

Limitations

There were several limitations to this review. Firstly, the search criteria excluded studies involving other endurance sports and running events of marathon length and under. While this was done to increase the specificity of findings to the sport of ultramarathons, it is possible that relevant findings from other disciplines were overlooked. Secondly, although representation of both sexes in cohorts was an inclusion criterion, females were still outnumbered by males, sometimes considerably, which could affect the validity of some of the findings. Thirdly, fluctuations in sex hormones across the menstrual cycle have important implications for many of the reported outcomes; however, this was rarely accounted for in the included studies. Additionally, the term “ultramarathon” includes races involving a vast range of distances, formats, and environments. Thus, caution must be used when extrapolating findings from studies based on one race, to ultramarathons as a whole. Finally, this review was conducted by one researcher and therefore did not benefit from duplicate data extraction and multiple independent reviewers, which could have affected the reliability of the search.

Conclusion

This review has demonstrated that although the importance of sex-related differences in physiology is garnering increasing recognition, significant gaps in knowledge around the extent and significance of these differences remain. As reflected by the results, there are very few interventional studies comparing male and female ultrarunners, and observational studies predominate. Furthermore, female sample sizes are generally small and may not be representative of the broad range of ultramarathon participants. Thus, the evidence base is generally of poor quality, making it difficult to infer conclusions regarding the potential benefits of sex-specific approaches to ultramarathon training, racing, nutrition, and recovery. Additionally, due to the wide range of ultramarathon race formats, significant heterogeneity in the race distance and terrain exists between studies, and this makes it difficult to compare study findings and formulate reliable guidance.

The most robust findings show that female ultramarathon runners have superior fatigue resistance, greater susceptibility to bone stress injuries and the athlete triad, and disparate oxidative responses compared with males. When considered as a whole, the body of research currently suggests that sex-specific recommendations and guidelines could improve performance and health outcomes in female ultramarathon runners. However, the evidence base is currently insufficient to formulate such guidelines, and further research that recognises sex as an important bivariate measure is required. Specifically, there is a dearth of interventional studies examining sex differences in the physiological responses to different training, nutrition, and recovery modalities. Study designs that investigate the effects of interventions during different stages of the menstrual cycle are particularly needed. Future research should also compare males with both pre- and post-menopausal females, investigate the effects of female sex hormones on fluid balance and EAH risk, and clarify the long-term effects of AO supplementation on female ultramarathon performance. It is hoped that increasing female participation in ultramarathons will be reflected by larger female cohorts in future studies, allowing for more direct comparisons between male and female physiology, and the development of scientifically robust recommendations for female ultramarathon athletes.

Availability of Data and Materials

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

Abbreviations

AKI:

Acute kidney injury

AO:

Antioxidant

AST:

Aspartate transaminase

BF%:

Body fat percentage

BMD:

Bone mineral density

BMI:

Body mass index

BP:

Blood pressure

BSI:

Bone stress injury

CG:

Carbonyl groups

CK:

Creatine kinase

CPET:

Cardiopulmonary exercise test

CPK:

Creatine phosphokinase

CRP:

C-reactive protein

CV:

Coefficient of variability

DEXA:

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid

EAH:

Exercise-associated hyponatraemia

EAMC:

Exercise-associated muscle cramps

ECHO:

Echocardiography

EEG:

Electroencephalography

EF:

Ejection fraction

EICF:

Exercise induced cardiac fatigue

F2IsoP:

F2 isoprostanes

FEV1:

Forced expiratory volume over 1 s

FFA:

Free fatty acids

FVC:

Forced vital capacity

GLS:

Global longitudinal strain

GPx:

Glutathione peroxidase

GR:

Glutathione reductase

Hct:

Haematocrit

HR:

Heart rate

HRI:

Heat-related illness

HRV:

Heart rate variability

IL-6:

Interleukin 6

IMVC:

Isometric maximal voluntary contraction

LA:

Left atrium

LDH:

Lactate dehydrogenase

LV:

Left ventricle

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

MFO:

Maximal fat oxidation rate

MIP:

Mean inspiratory pressure

%MRS:

Percentage of mean running speed

MSK:

Musculoskeletal

MVC:

Maximal voluntary contraction

PB:

Personal best

PEF:

Peak expiratory flow

RA:

Right atrium

RCT:

Randomised controlled trial

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

RV:

Right ventricle

RVFWS:

Right ventricular free wall strain

sIgA:

Salivary immunoglobulin A secretion

SSR:

Significant speed reduction

TNF-α:

Tumour necrosis factor alpha

URTI:

Upper respiratory tract infection

UTMB:

Ultra-Trail du Mount-Blanc

V̇O2max:

Maximal oxygen uptake

Vpeak:

Peak speed reached during cardiopulmonary exercise testing

VT1:

First ventilatory threshold

VT2:

Second ventilatory threshold

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Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Dr Malcolm Hilton for his guidance and supervision.

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  1. College of Medicine and Health, The University of Exeter, St Luke’s Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK

    Claudia P. M. G. Kelly

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Kelly, C.P.M.G. Is There Evidence for the Development of Sex-Specific Guidelines for Ultramarathon Coaches and Athletes? A Systematic Review. Sports Med - Open 9, 6 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-022-00533-9

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Keywords

  • Ultramarathon
  • Female athletes
  • Physiological sex differences
  • Running performance