Acute Effects of Prolonged Endurance Training with Moderate Intensity on Hematological Parameters among Young Men

Abstract

Running is a popular type of endurance exercise, but clinical evidence of its health benefits and acute consequences is lacking. Previous studies focus on muscle functions, and only a few studies examine hematological parameters. The current study investigates the acute effects of prolonged endurance training on hematological parameters. This is a quasi-repeated measures design; ten healthy males were voluntarily involved (19 ± 1.00 yrs, BMI 23.0 ± 2.50). The protocol was approved by the institutional health research ethics committee. The 10 Km distance must be accomplished with an intensity of 70-80% of MHR. Venous blood samples were collected before, 1-d, and 2-d post-running. Cyanide-free hemoglobin spectrophotometry was used to measure Hb and electrical impedance for erythrocytes, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and RDW. One-way repeated measures ANOVA was performed to elucidate the differences in means with p < 0.05. All data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Hb declined at 1-d (15.93 ± 0.35), significant at 2-d (15.64 ± 0.51) from pre-running (16.30 ± 0.38) as p < 0.05. Erythrocytes declined at 1-d (5.54 ± 0.34), remarkable at 2-d (5.42 ± 0.39) from pre-running (5.67 ± 0.37). There were no differences in changes in MCV, pre-running (82.21 ± 5.42), 1-d (82.14 ± 5.40), and 2-d (82.77 ± 5.39). The changes in MCH were not significant in pre-running (28.85 ± 1.86), 1-d (28.86 ± 1.87), 2-d (28.96 ± 1.87), as well as in MCHC, pre-running (35.13 ± 0.44), 1-d (35.11 ± 0.38), 2-d (34.98 ± 0.29). Remarkably, RDW was increased both at 1-d (13.17 ± 0.80) and at 2-d (13.13 ± 0.67) from pre-running (13.07 ± 0.77) as p < 0.05. We conclude that prolonged endurance training significantly affects changes in Hb and erythrocyte levels and RDW in young healthy males. Prolonged endurance training can considerably induce pseudo anemia at 48 h post-workout and initiate the inflammation process. This phenomenon is considered as a normal physiological adaptation of training. Keywords: physical activity, pseudo anemia, delayed-onset muscle soreness. https://doi.org/10.55463/issn.1674-2974.50.4.15