Serum iron and transferrin during an exhaustive session of interval training

Conflicting data have been reported on "sports anaemia" and anaemia during physical training. Most of these results are of studies at rest before or after training. The aim of this investigation was to further study the profiles of serum iron (Se Fe) and transferrin (Se Tr), in 14 physically trained men (28 +/- 6 years) during an exhaustive interval training session. The 45 min Square-Wave Endurance Exercise Test (SWEET) was performed on a cycle ergometer. To the SWEET base, established as a % of individual VO2max, a peak of 1 min at VO2max was added every 5 minutes. Arterial blood samples were taken at rest, during the SWEET at the 14th, 15th, 29th, 30th, 44th and 45th minutes, just before and after the peaks, and at the 15th min of recovery. Lactate, acidity [H+], PaCO2, PaO2, Haematocrit (Hct), Haemoglobin (Hb), Se Fe and Se Tr were measured. After the SWEET, weight loss was 0.89 +/- 0.15 kg. Lactate and serum iron rose progressively at the base levels and at the peaks, while PaCO2 and bicarbonate fell progressively. Hct, [Hb], serum transferrin and [H+] increased significantly at the 14th min of SWEET and thereafter no change was observed. At the 45th min with respect to the value at rest, Se Fe increased as much as +32%, Se Tr +13% and [Hb] +8%. Haemoconcentration could explain the changes in Se Tr but not the total significant increase in Se, Fe, which moreover is not explained by acidosis [H+].