title: Hematological and Biochemical Parameters in Elite Soccer Players During A Competitive Half Season.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of the present study was to report and discuss the hematological and biochemical behavior of elite soccer players, in order to get more insight in the physiological characteristics of these sportsmen and to provide trainers and sports doctors with useful indicators.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen male soccer players volunteered to participate in this study. We followed the young elite soccer players during a competitive half season. Venous blood samples were collected between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. after an overnight fast (10 h) at baseline, after 45 and 90 days and hematological and biochemical parameters were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were significantly reduced over the observational period (p<0.05), but erythrocyte count and iron levels remained unchanged. Bilirubin and ferritin levels significantly increased in response to regular soccer training (p<0.05). We observed a significant decrease in muscle enzyme plasma activity during the 90 days study period. ANOVA analysis revealed a significant increase in the leukocyte and neutrophil counts (p<0.05), in parallel with a significant decrease in the lymphocyte count (p<0.05) after the observational period of 90 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elite soccer players are characterized by significant changes in biochemical and hematological parameters over the half season, which are linked to training workload, as well as adaptation induced by the soccer training. Although the values of the measured parameters fell within the reference range, regular monitoring of the biochemical and hematological parameters is fundamental for the identification of a healthy status and related optimal performances by sport doctors and trainers and selection of a correct workload by trainers.
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine Association of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anđelković
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine Association of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia; Zvezdara University Medical Center, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baralić
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bromatology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Brižita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Đorđević
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Jelena Kotur
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Stevuljević
authors.affiliation: Zvezdara University Medical Center, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Nenad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Radivojević
authors.affiliation: Zvezdara University Medical Center, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Nenad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dikić
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Sanja Radojević
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Škodrić
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Gastroenterology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Mirjana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stojković
keywords: biochemistry; hematology; soccer