- Title
- Hepcidin and interleukin-6 responses to endurance exercise over the menstrual cycle
- Creator
- Barba-Moreno, Laura; Alfaro-Magallanes, Victor M.; de Jonge, Xanne A. K. Janse; Díaz, Angel E.; Cupeiro, Rocio; Peinado, Ana B.
- Relation
- European Journal of Sport Science Vol. 22, Issue 2, p. 218-226
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2020.1853816
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2022
- Description
- The aim of the current study was to investigate iron metabolism in endurance trained women through the interleukin-6, hepcidin and iron responses to exercise along different endogenous hormonal states. Fifteen women performed 40 min treadmill running trials at 75% vVO2peak during three specific phases of the menstrual cycle: early follicular phase (day 3 ± 0.85), mid-follicular phase (day 8 ± 1.09) and luteal phase (day 21 ± 1.87). Venous blood samples were taken pre-, 0 h post- and 3 h post-exercise. Interleukin-6 reported a significant interaction for menstrual cycle phase and time (p=0.014), showing higher interleukin-6 levels at 3 h post-exercise during luteal phase compared to the early follicular phase (p=0.004) and the mid-follicular phase (p=0.002). Iron levels were significantly lower (p=0.009) during the early follicular phase compared to the mid-follicular phase. However, hepcidin levels were not different across menstrual cycle phases (p>0.05). The time-course for hepcidin and interleukin-6 responses to exercise was different from the literature, since hepcidin peak levels occurred at 0 h post-exercise, whereas the highest interleukin-6 levels occurred at 3 h post-exercise. We concluded that menstrual cycle phases may alter interleukin-6 production causing a higher inflammation when progesterone levels are elevated (days 19–21). Moreover, during the early follicular phase a significant reduction of iron levels is observed potentially due to a loss of haemoglobin through menses. According to our results, high intensity exercises should be carefully monitored in these phases in order not to further compromise iron stores.
- Subject
- oestrogen; progesterone; anaemia; female athletes; exercise
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1452756
- Identifier
- uon:44496
- Identifier
- ISSN:1746-1391
- Language
- eng
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