AIM: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a cardioactive molecule produced in the 
myocardium. BNP is a sensitive marker of cardiac failure and its measurement in 
blood could be useful to the diagnosis and the treatment of this disease. 
Sporting activities, especially endurance ones, can induce cardiac problems, 
owing to the high workload for the myocardium during long and ultralong heavy 
effort. There are 2 papers describing the behavior of BNP in endurance events. 
BNP was elevated in marathoners, immediately after the race and also after 4 h. 
We studied the behavior of BNP in the triathlon, which is a complex sport 
characterized by 3 different activities (swimming, cycling, running).
METHODS: We recruited 49 athletes, all males, except for 4 females; 2 athletes 
did not finish the race and were not included in the statistical analysis in 2 
different competitions. In these subjects we measured BNP using an immunological 
method before and after a triathlon.
RESULTS: No statistical significance between BNP values, before and after the 
triathlon, was found.
CONCLUSIONS: We found no significant differences between pre- and 
postcompetition BNP values. Moreover, the range of values in both the blood 
drawings are similar of those of the general population, representing the 
biological variability of the analyte. The values in regularly trained 
athletes,, are not different from the general population and BNP is not modified 
by a triathlon, a typical endurance sport performance. We can underline that BNP 
increases in plasma are induced by heavy pathologies and are not influenced by 
physical activities, even strenuous ones.