title: Hematological and biochemical markers of iron status in a male, young, physically active population.
abstract: The aim of this study was to establish reference intervals (RIs) for the hemogram and iron status biomarkers in a physically active population. The study population included male volunteers (n = 150) with an average age of 19 ± 1 years who had participated in a regular and controlled exercise program for four months. Blood samples were collected to determine hematological parameters using a Sysmex XE-5000 analyzer (Sysmex, Kobe, Japan). Iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation and ferritin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in serum samples were measured using commercial kits (Roche Diagnostics, GmbH, Mannheim, Germany) and a Roche/Hitachi 902 analyzer. The RIs were established using the RefVal program 4.1b. The leucocyte count, TIBC, and CRP and ferritin concentrations exhibited higher RIs compared with those in a nonphysically active population. Thirty volunteers (outliers) were removed from the reference population due to blood abnormalities. Among the outliers, 46% exhibited higher CRP concentrations and lower concentrations of iron and reticulocyte hemoglobin compared with the nonphysically active population (P < 0.001). Our results showed that it is important to establish RIs for certain laboratory parameters in a physically active population, especially for tests related to the inflammatory response and iron metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Metrocamp College-IBMEC Group, 13035-270 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lázaro Alessandro Soares
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, 13083-881 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Helena Zerlotti W
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Grotto
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Instrumentation for Biomechanics, Physical Education Institute, State University of Campinas, 13083-851 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brenzikofer
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Exercise Biochemistry-LABEX, Biochemistry Department, Biology Institute, State University of Campinas, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Denise Vaz
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Macedo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D015444:Exercise; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D007564:Japan; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D061250:Transferrins / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D061250:Transferrins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron