Marathon Athletes’ Blood To Be Tested

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31007, 12 March 1966, Page 3

Marathon Athletes’ Blood To Be Tested

(New Zealand Press Association)

HAMILTON, March 11.

Part of a survey relating exercise to the hardening of the arteries will be made on competitors in tomorrow’s national marathon championships in Hamilton. The tests will be taken by the Waikato Hospital pathology department.

Eighteen months ago similar tests after the New Zealand cross-country championships at Christchurch showed interesting results concerning the unclotting capacity of athletes’ blood.

To continue the survey the pathology department has sent letters to competitors in tomorrow's marathon asking for their co-operation. It is hoped to take some blood tests—especially from the winner immediately after the marathon. More will be taken on Sunday morning when the athletes have been asked to meet at the hospital’s blood donor centre.

A department spokesman said today some authorities considered inadequate unclotting capacity or imbalance between it and coagulation might be related to hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). After exercise most athletes showed an increased unclotting capacity, he said. “This has been regarded as strong evidence for the Lydiard hypothesis that regular exercise, such as running, may arrest or prevent atherosclerotic change in the blood vessels,” the spokesman saidHowever the results after the Christchurch championships

were apparently “paradox!

In general the times the blood had taken to unclot were much longer than had been anticipated, he said.