ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Exercise-induced iron deficiency is a common finding in endurance athletes. It has been suggested recently that hepcidin may be an important mediator in this process. OBJECTIVE: To determine hepcidin levels and markers of iron status during long-term exercise training in female runners with depleted and normal iron stores. METHODS: Fourteen runners were divided into two groups according to iron status. Blood samples were taken during a period of eight weeks at baseline, after training and after ten days' recovery phase. RESULTS: Of 14 runners, 7 were iron deficient at baseline and 10 after training. Hepcidin was lower at recovery compared with baseline (p<0.05). The mean cell haemoglobin content, haemoglobin content per reticulocyte and total iron binding capacity all decreased, whereas soluble transferrin receptor and hypochromic red cells increased after training and recovery (p<0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of depleted iron stores was 71% at the end of the training phase. Hepcidin and iron stores decreased during long-term running training and did not recover after ten days, regardless of baseline iron status.
Subject(s)
Exercise , Hepcidins/blood , Iron Deficiencies , Iron/blood , Running , Adult , Athletes , Biomarkers/blood , Female , Hemoglobins/metabolism , Humans , Inflammation , Interleukin-6/metabolism , Prospective Studies , Protein Binding , Reticulocytes/metabolism , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Exercise-associated iron deficiency is a common disorder in endurance athletes. The authors investigated the effects of long-term endurance exercise on hepcidin concentrations, inflammatory parameters, and iron status in moderately trained female long-distance runners. Eighteen runners were assigned to either an interval- or a continuous-training exercise group. The physical training consisted of two 3-week progressive overload periods, each followed by a week's recovery, and concluded with a 10- or 21-km competitive run. Samples were taken 6 times during the 8-wk training program, first at baseline (BPre), then after the first and second 3-wk training loads (TPost1, TPost2), after each recovery week (Recovery1 and Recovery2), and poststudy (BPost). Soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) concentrations were increased in Recovery2 and BPost compared with BPre (p=.02), hemoglobin decreased in TPost1 and TPost2 (p<.001), and red blood cells decreased in TPost2 (p=.01). Hepcidin decreased with time in TPost1 and in BPost compared with BPre (p<.001) and increased in TPost2 compared with TPost1 (p<.001). No differences over time were found for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. The main findings of the current study indicate that serum hepcidin and sTfR were affected after 8 weeks of endurance running in women. No positive relation was found with inflammation.
Subject(s)
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency/etiology , Anemia, Iron-Deficiency/immunology , Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/blood , C-Reactive Protein/analysis , Exercise/physiology , Physical Endurance/physiology , Physical Fitness/physiology , Adult , Anemia, Iron-Deficiency/blood , Anemia, Iron-Deficiency/physiopathology , Female , Ferritins/blood , Hematocrit , Hemoglobins/analysis , Hepcidins , Humans , Plasma Volume , Prospective Studies , Receptors, Transferrin/blood , Receptors, Transferrin/chemistry , Running , Solubility , Time FactorsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Information about doping awareness among medical professionals is scarce. We evaluated the attitudes, level of knowledge and experience among general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists (Ps) with regard to doping. METHODS: In a cross-sectional national survey a 59-item self-administered questionnaire was sent to a representative random sample of 645 GPs and 330 Ps. RESULTS: Overall, 204/975 (133 GPs, 71 Ps) questionnaires were returned and available for analysis. Fewer than half (39% GPs vs. 48% Ps, P = 0.702) of respondents were familiar with the formal definition of doping. The abbreviation WADA was correctly interpreted by 42% (33% vs. 59%, P = 0.003), and 65% knew that the European Commission has the legislation to fight against doping. More GPs (69% vs. 31%, P = 0.005) agreed to have a role to play in doping prevention, similar proportions considering themselves to have sufficient knowledge of prevention initiatives (65% vs. 35%, P = 0.369). Overall, 12% of respondents (8.7% GPs, 19.3% Ps) reported being directly confronted with a request for prescription of doping agents in the previous 12 months (mainly stimulants, anabolic agents, hormones, corticosteroids). CONCLUSIONS: GPs and Ps are frequently exposed to questions about and requests for doping agents. They have acceptable level of general knowledge but are in need for more specific information on prohibited substances and legislature.
