Effect of intense physical exercise on hepcidin levels and selected parameters of iron metabolism in rowing athletes.

Skarpańska-Stejnborn, Anna; Basta, Piotr; Trzeciak, Jerzy; Szcześniak-Pilaczyńska, Łucja

Purpose: Physical exercise, especially intense physical exercise, causes a number of unfavorable changes, including an increase in the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines with the resultant sequestration of iron in macrophages and decreased iron absorption. This can lead to a reduced supply of iron for erythroid progenitor cells and promote the development of anemia. Method: This study included a group of 20 rowing athletes, members of the National Polish Rowing Team. The participants performed a 2,000-m maximum test on a rowing ergometer. Blood samples were taken from the antecubital vein prior to the exercise test, 1 min after completing the test, and after a 24-h recovery period. We determined the levels of hepcidin, interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α, soluble transferrin receptor, ferritin, total iron-binding capacity, unbound iron-binding capacity, iron, red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, creatine kinase, and myoglobin. Result: The high-intensity exercise test caused significant changes in hepcidin levels, IL-6, and iron metabolism parameters, with their subsequent return to baseline values during the recovery period. The serum iron levels decreased significantly during the recovery compared with pre- and post-exercise levels. Conclusion: These results suggest that the high-intensity ergometric test was reflected by a marked decrease in serum level of iron during the recovery period, but did not induce concomitant changes in the remaining erythrocyte parameters.

EXERCISE physiology; HEPCIDIN; IRON metabolism; ROWERS; HEMOLYSIS & hemolysins

European Journal of Applied Physiology, 2015, Vol 115, Issue 2, p345

1439-6319

Academic Journal

10.1007/s00421-014-3018-3