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Seasonal changes in haematology, lymphocyte transferrin receptors and intracellular iron in Ironman triathletes and untrained men
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Seasonal changes in haematology, lymphocyte transferrin receptors and intracellular iron in Ironman triathletes and untrained men

Suzanne Broadbent
European Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol.111(1), pp.93-100
2011
url
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1635-zView
Published Version

Abstract

seasonal variations lymphocytes transferrin receptors haemoglobin intracellular iron
We investigated whether 12 months of chronic endurance training would affect haematology, CD4 + lymphocyte transferrin receptor (CD71) expression, CD4 + intracellular iron and the incidence of upper respiratory tract illnesses (URTI) in Ironman triathletes compared with untrained men. Resting venous blood samples were taken from 15 Ironman triathletes (TR 30±5 year) and 12 untrained men (UT 30±6 year) every 4 weeks for 12 months. Erythrocyte, leukocyte and platelet concentration, haematocrit, haemoglobin (Hb) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCHC) were measured with a full blood count. CD4 + lymphocytes were analysed for changes in transferrin receptor (CD71) expression (CD4 +CD71 +), and intracellular iron (Fe 3+), by flow cytometry. The TR group had significantly lower Hb, MCHC, and platelets for 10, 9 and 11 months, respectively; lower CD4 +CD71 + (3 months) and Fe 3+ (1 month), respectively; higher CD4 +CD71 + (1 month); a higher lymphocyte count for 4 months. There were no between-group differences in other variables. In both groups haematology and lymphocytes increased during spring, early summer and winter and decreased during late summer/late winter, with an inverse relationship between CD4 +CD71 + and Fe 3+. The TR group reported significantly fewer URTI than the UT. Low Hb and MCHC suggest an iron deficiency which may affect triathlete performance. Monthly changes in lymphocytes, CD4 +CD71 + and Fe 3+ suggested that spring, summer and late autumn are associated with CD4 + proliferation. There may be seasonal relationships between haematology and lymphocyte function, independent of endurance training, possibly affecting performance but not the incidence of URTI. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.

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