title: Effect of intense physical exercise on hepcidin levels and selected parameters of iron metabolism in rowing athletes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphological and Health Sciences, Faculty of Physical Culture in Gorzów Wlkp., Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland, ankass@poczta.onet.pl.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skarpańska-Stejnborn
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Basta
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trzeciak
authors.forename: Łucja
authors.initials: Ł
authors.lastname: Szcześniak-Pilaczyńska
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015444:Exercise; D064451:Hepcidins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D064451:Hepcidins; D007501:Iron