title: The effects of 8 weeks of endurance running on hepcidin concentrations, inflammatory parameters, and iron status in female runners.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Auersperger
authors.forename: Bojan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Knap
authors.forename: Ales
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jerin
authors.forename: Rok
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blagus
authors.forename: Mitja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lainscak
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skitek
authors.forename: Branko
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Skof
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D064451:Hepcidins; D006801:Humans; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D010953:Plasma Volume; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D012420:Running; D012995:Solubility; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; C578702:HAMP protein, human; D006454:Hemoglobins; D064451:Hepcidins; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005293:Ferritins