Do Men and Women Differ in Hematological Adaptations to 24 Weeks of Crossfit® Training?

Ana Cristina Barreto; Luis Leitão; Jeferson Vianna; Rodrigo Poderoso; Victor Machado Reis; Maria Cirilo-Sousa; Adenilson Junior; Marcelo Colonna; Gustavo Casimiro-Lopes; Jefferson Novaes

doi:10.5114/jhk/170885

Do Men and Women Differ in Hematological Adaptations to 24 Weeks of Crossfit® Training?

J Hum Kinet. 2023 Oct 11:90:101-110. doi: 10.5114/jhk/170885. eCollection 2024 Jan.

Authors

Ana Cristina Barreto¹, Luis Leitão^{2

3}, Jeferson Vianna⁴, Rodrigo Poderoso⁵, Victor Machado Reis⁶, Maria Cirilo-Sousa^{7

8}, Adenilson Junior⁹, Marcelo Colonna^{10

11}, Gustavo Casimiro-Lopes¹², Jefferson Novaes^{4

13}

Affiliations

¹ Physical Education Department, Celso Lisboa University Center, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
² Sciences and Technology Department, Superior School of Education of Polytechnic Institute of Setubal, Setúbal, Portugal.
³ Life Quality Research Centre (CIEQV), Leiria, Portugal.
⁴ Physical Education and Sports Department, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil.
⁵ Physical Education Department, University of Unopar, Nilópolis, Brazil.
⁶ Research Centre in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD, Vila Real, Portugal.
⁷ Physical Education Department, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, Brazil.
⁸ Postgraduate Program of Physical Education, University of Cariri Regional, Crato, Brazil.
⁹ Physical Education Department, Federal Techonology Institute of Paraiba, João Pessoa, Brazil.
¹⁰ Physical Education Department, University Center of Augusto Motta of UNISUAM, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
¹¹ Physical Education Department, Estácio de Sá University, UNESA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
¹² Physical Education and Sports Institute, Laboratory of Exercise Pathophysiology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
¹³ Physical Education and Sports Department, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Abstract

Regular exercise can modulate the immune system functioning through changes in the number and function of leukocytes as well as in red blood cells and other typical blood markers. High intensity exercise promotes increases in cytotoxic activity, phagocytic capacity, chemotaxis and cell apoptosis. The aim of the study was to compare the chronic effects of a 24-week training program using CrossFit® methodology on hematological variables of men vs. women. Twenty-nine CrossFit® athletes (35.3 ± 10.4 years, 175.0 ± 9.2 cm, 79.5 ± 16.4 kg) participated in the study. The blood count, the lipid profile and glucose markers were measured every two months during the study period. The erythrocyte count and hemoglobin concentrations increased in months 4 and 6 in men and women, respectively. Hematocrit levels increased in men in months 2, 4 and 6, while in women only in month 6. Red cell distribution width increased in men in month 6 when compared to the value in month 2. Segmented neutrophils increased in men in month 6 and eosinophil levels increased in women in month 6. Differences between the two sexes were observed in monocytes levels at baseline, as well as in months 2, 4 and 6. Cross-Fit^® training increased red cell count indicators in both sexes, which may be related to increased erythropoiesis. Some white blood cell counts were altered and these differed between sexes. The number of lymphocytes remained stable throughout the experiment.

Keywords: high intensity; interval training; red blood cells; white blood cells.