Association Between Ferritin Levels and Altitude-Dependent Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Mountain Guides

Pühringer, Reinhard, Martina Muckenthaler, and Martin Burtscher. Association between ferritin levels and altitude-dependent cardiorespiratory fitness in mountain guides. . 24:139-143, 2023. Higher ferritin levels may be associated with lower cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF; i.e., maximal oxygen uptake, VO max) and may represent early markers of cardiovascular risk but may also support high-altitude acclimatization. To evaluate these potential associations, data recordings from a large sample of male mountain guides have been analyzed. A total of 154 data sets (including anthropometric data, VO max, blood lipids, hemoglobin, ferritin, and transferrin levels) of regularly physically active and well-acclimatized mountain guides were available for analyses. Participants performed equal incremental cycle ergometer tests to exhaustion at low (600 m) and (∼1 week later) at moderate altitude (2,000 m). Ferritin levels were positively correlated with levels of hemoglobin ( = 0.29,