Total Iron Concentrations in Different Biological Matrices-Influence of Physical Training

Nutrients. 2022 Aug 28;14(17):3549. doi: 10.3390/nu14173549.

Abstract

Iron (Fe) is one of the most widely studied trace mineral elements. Fe metabolism and homeostasis could be altered by physical training. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of long-term physical training on serum, plasma, urine (extracellular), erythrocyte and platelet (intracellular) Fe concentrations. Forty men from the same geographical area divided into a training group (TG; n = 20; 18.15 ± 0.27 years) and a control group (CG; n = 20; 19.25 ± 0.39 years) participated in this study. The TG was composed of soccer players of the highest youth category. The CG consisted of young people who did not follow any training routine and had not practiced any sport for at least the previous six months. The TG showed higher plasma and serum Fe concentrations (p < 0.05), but lower concentrations in erythrocytes and platelets compared to the CG (p < 0.01). Due to the differences observed in the extracellular and intracellular compartments, it seems necessary to perform a global Fe analysis to assess Fe status.

Keywords: erythrocytes; iron; plasma; platelets; serum and urine.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Exercise
  • Humans
  • Iron
  • Male
  • Minerals
  • Soccer*
  • Trace Elements*

Substances

  • Minerals
  • Trace Elements
  • Iron

Grants and funding

This study has been partially subsidized by the Aid for Research Groups (GR21003) from the Regional Government of Extremadura (Department of Employment, Companies and Innovation), with a contribution from the European Union from the European Funds for Regional Development. The author VT-R was supported by a grant from the plan for initiation to research, technological development and innovation of the University of Extremadura (code 1375). The funders played no role in the study design, the data collection, and analysis, the decision to publish, or the preparation of the manuscript.