Abstract
BackgroundHepcidin, a peptide that is released into the blood in response to inflammation, prevents cellular iron export and results in declines in iron status. Elevated serum and urinary levels of hepcidin have been observed in athletes following exercise, and declines in iron status have been reported following prolonged periods of training. The objective of this observational study was to characterize the effects of an occupational task, military training, on iron status, inflammation, and serum hepcidin.FindingsVolunteers (n = 21 males) included Norwegian Soldiers participating in a 7-day winter training exercise that culminated in a 3-day, 54 km ski march. Fasted blood samples were collected at baseline, on day 4 (PRE, prior to the ski march), and again on day 7 (POST, following the ski march). Samples were analyzed for hemoglobin, serum ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and serum hepcidin. Military training affected inflammation and serum hepcidin levels, as IL-6 and hepcidin concentrations increased (P < 0.05) from the baseline to POST (mean ± SD, 9.1 ± 4.9 vs. 14.5 ± 8.4 pg/mL and 6.5 ± 3.5 vs. 10.2 ± 6.9 ng/mL, respectively). Iron status was not affected by the training exercise, as sTfR levels did not change over the course of the 7-day study.ConclusionsMilitary training resulted in significant elevations in IL-6 and serum hepcidin. Future studies should strive to identify the role of hepcidin in the adaptive response to exercise, as well as countermeasures for the prevention of chronic or repeated elevations in serum hepcidin due to exercise or sustained occupational tasks which may result in longer term decrements in iron status.
Highlights
Hepcidin, a peptide that is released into the blood in response to inflammation, prevents cellular iron export and results in declines in iron status
Military training resulted in significant elevations in IL-6 and serum hepcidin
Future studies should strive to identify the role of hepcidin in the adaptive response to exercise, as well as countermeasures for the prevention of chronic or repeated elevations in serum hepcidin due to exercise or sustained occupational tasks which may result in longer term decrements in iron status
Summary
Occupational tasks, such as sustained, physically demanding military training, may result in the release of IL-6, and subsequent elevations in serum hepcidin. Chronic or repeated elevations in serum hepcidin may result in diminished iron status, which could affect human performance. Future studies should strive to identify the role of hepcidin in the adaptive response to exercise, as well as appropriate countermeasures for the prevention of decrements in iron status that may occur in response to physical activity-induced elevations in serum hepcidin. Authors’ contributions The authors’ responsibilities were as follows – SMP, SM, YG, SJM, and AJY designed the research; SMP, SM, NEM, LMM, SJM, IT, MGS, and YG conducted the research; JPM, SMP, and LMM analyzed the data; JPM and SMP wrote the manuscript; all authors had responsibility for final content.
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