Predicting the Metabolic Biomarkers Associated With Injury in Athletes

For elite athletes, sports injuries significantly impede the further enhancement of their competitive performance. Consequently, the significance of preventing, detecting, and addressing potential injury issues has become increasingly critical. Currently, the comprehensive evaluation of athletes' physical function and condition primarily depends on a range of physiological, biochemical, and immunological indicators. However, these methods have progressively exposed their limitations. As an advanced bioinformatics technology, omics research demonstrates unique advantages. By leveraging multi-omics research and analysis, it is possible to more accurately observe the physiological and biochemical changes that athletes undergo during training and competition, as well as their regulatory mechanisms. This approach can provide practical data, identify biomarkers that can warn of potential injuries, and offer precise guidance for training monitoring and injury prevention. It also provides a foundation for developing diverse, precise, and personalized sports programs and rehabilitation plans.

Study Overview

• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Conditions: Sports Medicine

Detailed Description

Investigators will collect fasting venous blood. White blood cell count, red blood cell count, erythrocyte specific volume, hemoglobin, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, erythrocyte sediment rate, lactic acid,creatine kinase, liver function indicators, blood urea, blood creatinine, blood uric acid, blood testosterone, blood cortisol, immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM) and ferritin levels were measured. The levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α were determined by ELISA. Blood samples were purified and analyzed by proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics methods. Urine and stool samples were collected and analyzed by multi-omics method.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 60

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Shanghai, China, 200092
    • Department of Respiratory, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine,China

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Athletes in sports, due to sudden external force or improper operation, resulting in body tissue damage in a short period of time. This injury usually has sudden and distinct traumatic features, and common types include:

1. Sprain: Joint due to excessive torsion or stretching, resulting in ligament damage.
2. Strain: An injury to a muscle or tendon caused by excessive stretching or contraction.
3. Contusion: A direct impact on the body part causes damage to the subcutaneous tissue, which may be accompanied by bruising.
4. Fracture: The bone is broken due to external force.
5. Dislocation: The joint is removed from its normal position due to external forces.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age： Athletes 12-30 years old
2. Acute injury during exercise: such as muscle, sprain, contusion, torn ligament, dislocation, fracture.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Athletes with serious cardio-cerebrovascular disease and abnormal liver and kidney function
2. Recent use of drugs or supplements that affect metabolism.
3. Pregnancy, lactation or special conditions that may affect metabolism.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Acute Injury athletes; Athletes in sports, due to sudden external force or improper operation, resulting in body tissue damage in a short period of time. This injury usually has sudden and distinct traumatic features, and common types include: Sprain: Joint due to excessive torsion or stretching, resulting in ligament damage.; Strain: An injury to a muscle or tendon caused by excessive stretching or contraction.; Contusion: A direct impact on the body part causes damage to the subcutaneous tissue, which may be accompanied by bruising.; Fracture: The bone is broken due to external force.; Dislocation: The joint is removed from its normal position due to external forces.
Healthy athletes; athletes with no acute injury in the last 3 months
Healthy; Healthy non-athlete population

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of participants with athletes with acute injuries	Acute injuries are defined as the injuries of body tissues in a short period of time due to sudden external force or improper operation during sports.This injury usually has sudden and distinct traumatic features	1year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Yue Zhang, Doctor, Department of Respiratory, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 16, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 2, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 16, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 21, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 24, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 22, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: biomarker; injury; metabolite; sports medicine,
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: XH-25-003

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No