A DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY OF ACETYLSALICYLIC-ACID (ASA) IN TRAINED RUNNERS

Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is a short-acting oral inhibitor of the cyc looxygenase enzyme. Ingestion of ASA is associated with a decrease in prostaglandins, including those of the E2 series, as well as prostacyc lin, and thromboxane. Consumption of therapeutic doses is associated w ith decreased pain and inflammation and is therefore used in a variety of inflammatory conditions. Platelet aggregation is also inhibited. B ecause of these observations, and the fact that platelet aggregation h as been noted to be altered during exercise, the effects of ASA on exe rcise tolerance was of interest. We studied 17 healthy male volunteers who regularly ran as a source of exercise. During the study they inge sted either 650 mg of ASA or placebo 30 min before running 2 miles (3. 2 km). Outcome of the double-blind crossover study was measured by the time required to run a 2-mile distance. No differences between ASA or placebo were noted in the subjects. These data suggest that 650 mg of ASA as a premedication has little effect on exercise performance in n ormal endurance runners. However, whether ASA may affect pain after ex ercise or whether other dosage intervals would be more beneficial need s further study.