Dynamics of Serum Iron and Hepcidin in Japanese Rugby League Players

Mitsugi Shimoda; Akihito Abe; Yasunori Chiba; Shigeyuki Mitsuhashi; Keiichi Kubota

Volume : III, Issue : VIII, August - 2014

Dynamics of Serum Iron and Hepcidin in Japanese Rugby League Players

Mitsugi Shimoda, Akihito Abe, Yasunori Chiba, Shigeyuki Mitsuhashi, Keiichi Kubota

Abstract :

Background: There have been no studies reporting about hepcidin and its relation with stress due to training or competition in contact sports such as rugby. There are also no studies reporting about the relation of hepcidin with iron, ferritin, or hemoglobin. Research question: The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamics of serum iron and hepcidin in rugby players. Type of study: Observational parallel-group study. Methods: Forty Eight male rugby players were accrued from the top domestic league for this study. Laboratory data were analyzed on an annual basis. The players were divided into two groups according to the duration of participation in top league games (total competition time 300min for group A and <300min for group B), and these two groups were compared. Results: The levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), blood urea nitrogen, ferritin, and hepcidin were increased significantly in all of the players after training or competition. In contrast, the total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, haematocrit, and platelet count showed a significant decrease. Comparison of the two groups showed that the levels of GOT, GPT, LDH, CPK, creatinine, uric acid, hepcidin, and ferritin were higher in group A than in group B. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the yearly variations of iron, hemoglobin, ferritin, and hepcidin levels were demonstrated to be associated with biochemical parameters. In addition, starting players have a higher work load than substitute players despite undergoing the same training.