Increased Level of Serum Hepcidin in Female Adolescent Athletes

Iron Deficiency and Anemia in Male and Female Adolescent Athletes Who Engage in Ball Games

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) among male adolescent athletes who participate in non-calorie-restricting sports, and to compare the results with female athletes of the same age and sports. Data of the hemoglobin concentration (Hb) and serum ferritin (sFer) levels of male (n = 350) and female (n = 126) basketball and football players, aged 11-18, from two sport medicine centers in Israel were gathered and analyzed. Mild ID was defined as sFer ≤ 30 µg/L, moderate as sFer ≤ 20 µg/L, and severe as sFer ≤ 10 µg/L. IDA was defined as sFer ≤ 20 µg/L and Hb < 13 g/dL for males and sFer ≤ 20 µg/L and Hb < 12 g/dL for females. The prevalence of mild ID was 41.1% and 53.2%, moderate was 17.4% and 27.8%, and severe was 2% and 4.8% in males and females, respectively. The prevalence of IDA was 2.6% in males and 4% in females. Mild and moderate ID was significantly higher among females. In conclusion, non-anemic ID, which is known to be common among female athletes, especially in sports requiring leanness, is also highly prevalent among adolescent males playing ball games. Therefore, screening for hemoglobin and sFer is recommended for young athletes of both genders and in all sports.

Effect of an acute exercise on early responses of iron and iron regulatory proteins in young female basketball players

Background

The accumulation of physiological stress and the presence of inflammation disturb iron management in athletes during intense training. However, little is known about the mechanisms regulating iron levels in athletes during training periods with low training loads. In the current study, we analyzed the effect of an acute exercise on early responses of iron and iron regulatory proteins at the end of such training periods.

Methods

The study was performed at the end of competitive phase of training. A total of 27 trained female basketball players were included in the study after application of the inclusion/exclusion criteria. The participants performed an incremental exercise on a treadmill. Blood samples were taken before the test, immediately after exercise, and after 3 h of restitution. Parameters, such as interleukin (IL) 6, hepcidin, ferritin, transferrin, hemopexin, and lactoferrin levels, total iron-biding capacity (TIBC), unsaturated iron-biding capacity (UIBC) were determined by using appropriate biochemical tests.

Results

The level of iron increased significantly after exercise, and then decreased within next 3 h restitution. Except for iron levels, only TIBC levels significantly increased after exercise and decreased to baseline level during rest period. No significant changes in the levels of hepcidin, IL-6, and other proteins related to the iron homeostasis were observed.

Conclusions

The increases in iron level after acute exercise is short-term and transient and appear to have been insufficient to induce the acute systemic effects in rested athletes.

The Hepcidin-25/Ferritin Ratio Is Increased in University Rugby Players with Lower Fat Mass

Hepcidin-25 is suggested as a surrogate iron status marker in athletes who show exercise-induced anemia; however, the implications of hepcidin concentration in this population remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between hepcidin and body fat levels in rugby football players. We included 40 male university rugby football players (RUG) and 40 non-athlete controls. All participants underwent an anthropometric analysis and blood testing that included both hepcidin-25 and ferritin levels. The hepcidin-25 level was slightly (11.6%, p = 0.50) higher, and the ferritin level was significantly (35.9%, p < 0.05) lower, in the RUG group than in controls. The hepcidin-25 to-ferritin ratio was significantly higher (62.5%, p < 0.05) in the RUG group. While significant U-shaped correlations were observed between the body fat and ferritin levels in both groups, the correlations between the hepcidin levels and fat mass index were significantly higher in the RUG group (RUG: r = 0.79, controls: r = 0.45). Notably, the RUG with the lower fat mass index group had a higher hepcidin-25 level, lower ferritin level, and then significantly higher hepcidin-25/ferritin ratio. The hepcidin-25/ferritin ratio may serve as a biomarker for iron status in RUG, especially RUG with lower fat mass.

Comparisons Between Serum Levels of Hepcidin and Leptin in Male College-Level Endurance Runners and Sprinters

Background: Hepcidin-25 is a 25 amino acid hepatokine and a key regulator of iron metabolism related to iron deficiency anemia. Recent studies have suggested that an elevated hepcidin level is correlated with low energy availability. Leptin is an appetite-suppressing adipokine and has been reported to stimulate hepcidin production in animals and cultured cells. While leptin is modulated by exercise, it is known that endurance runners and sprinters practice different types of exercise. This study investigated and compared the relationships between hepcidin and leptin levels, iron status, and body fat to understand better the risk of iron deficiency anemia in endurance runners and sprinters. Methods: Thirty-six male college track and field athletes (15 endurance runners and 21 sprinters) were recruited for this study. Dietary intake, body composition, and blood levels of ferritin, hepcidin-25, leptin, and adiponectin were measured. Correlations between hepcidin levels and ferritin, body fat, leptin, and adiponectin were evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient for each group. Results: The endurance runners had lower hepcidin levels and higher leptin and adiponectin levels compared with sprinters. Ferritin was positively correlated with hepcidin-25 levels in both the endurance and sprinter groups. A positive correlation was observed between hepcidin-25 and body fat or leptin levels only in sprinters. Conclusion: This is the first study investigating the relationship between blood levels of hepcidin and leptin in athletes. The positive correlation between hepcidin-25 and leptin was observed in sprinters but not endurance runners.