Effect of Baseline Ferritin Level on Iron Status in Male Elite Youth Rowers

The data of 16 trained men from the Polish Youth National Rowing. All athletes presented as medically fit, with no underlying health problems. In this cohort, baseline serum ferritin levels were considered, and the athletes were divided into two groups:

1. Serum ferritin <75 ng/ml (SF<75): n=9
2. Serum ferritin >75 ng/ml (SF>75): n=7

The rowing test was performed at the beginning of the preparatory phase of the annual training cycle (April), which is characterized by high volume and training load. After a 5-min of individual warm-up, the athletes performed a 2000-m exercise test on a rowing ergometer (Concept II, USA). Blood samples took from the cubital vein at three time points: before stress test (pre-exercise), one minute after the end of the test (post-exercise), and after a 1-hour recovery period (1h recovery).

Measurements ferritin, transferrin, hepcidin and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were determined using ELISA kits (SunRed Biotechnology Company). The iron levels were determined on the SPECTROstar Nano reader.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Inflammation; Red Blood Cell; Iron Deficiency Anemias

Detailed Description

The data of 16 trained men from the Polish Youth National Rowing. All athletes presented as medically fit, with no underlying health problems. In this cohort, baseline serum ferritin levels were considered, and the athletes were divided into two groups:

1. Serum ferritin <75 ng/ml (SF<75): n=9
2. Serum ferritin >75 ng/ml (SF>75): n=7

The rowing test was performed at the beginning of the preparatory phase of the annual training cycle (April), which is characterized by high volume and training load. After a 5-min of individual warm-up, the athletes performed a 2000-m exercise test on a rowing ergometer (Concept II, USA). Blood samples took from the cubital vein at three time points: before stress test (pre-exercise), one minute after the end of the test (post-exercise), and after a 1-hour recovery period (1h recovery).

Measurement: All determined parameters will be measured with the available equipment in the ZWKF laboratory in Gorzów Wielkopolski and using commercial assay kits. Measurements will be performed by the project contractors.

1. Polyethylene tubes (2.7ml) containing dipotassium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTAK2) anticoagulant will be used for the following tests:

   (a) complete blood count (7 parameters) determined on the MYTHIC 18 hematology analyzer (Orphee Medical, Geneva, Switzerland). Red blood cell indices: RBC (Red Blood Cells), HGB (Hemoglobin), HCT (Hematocrit), MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume), MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin), MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration), RDW (Red Blood cells Distribution Width).

2. Polyethylene clotting activator tubes (9 ml) will be centrifuged to separate the morphotic elements from the serum using a centrifuge (3000 rpm for 10 min). The serum will be pipetted into several Eppendorf tubes, which will then be frozen (temp. -80 °C). All the following biochemical parameters will be determined from the extracted serum:

   1. using the ELISA method by the test manufacturer's instructions. The designations include the flowing parameters:

      • iron status parameters: hepcidin, transferrin , ferritin,
      • indicators of inflammation: IL-6.
   2. The iron levels be determined using the colorimetric method on the SPECTROstar Nano reader.
3. The lactate (La) concentration will be determined from the capillary blood immediately after collection using a commercially available kit (Dr. Lange, Germany).

Youth National Rowing Team of Poland The athletes' diets were completely analyzed before each exercise test by a nutritionist. Participants, with the help of a dietician who was available during meals on test days, filled out food diaries. The amount of energy, protein, carbohydrates, fats and fiber were then analyzed using a commercially available program.

The experiment was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Medical University of Poznan (decision no. 685/23 in 2023).

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 16

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Poland
  • Poznań, Poland, 61-871
    • Poznań University of Physical Education,

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Youth National Rowing Team of Poland

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Training experience a minimum of five years
• Minimum training time per week 240 minute
• Membership in the Youth National Rowing Team of Poland
• Completion of the 2000m ergometer test on two test dates

Exclusion Criteria:

• Taking other supplements containing anthocyanin compounds during the study period or a month earlier
• Antibiotic therapy
• Health problems

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Ferritin	Concentration of ferritin [ng/mL]. ELISA method by the test manufacturer's instructions	At rest (before the test), directly after the test, and after a 1-hour recovery period.
Iron	The iron level [µg/dL] will be determined using the colorimetric method on the SPECTROstar Nano reader.	At rest (before the test), directly after the test, and after a 1-hour recovery period.
Interleukin-6 (Il-6)	Concentration of IL-6 [ng/L]. ELISA method by the test manufacturer's instructions	At rest (before the test), directly after the test, and after a 1-hour recovery period.
Hepcidin	Concentration of hepcidin [ng/mL]. ELISA method by the test manufacturer's instructions	At rest (before the test), directly after the test, and after a 1-hour recovery period.
Transferrin	Concentration of transferrin [mg/mL]. ELISA method by the test manufacturer's instructions	At rest (before the test), directly after the test, and after a 1-hour recovery period.
The Blood morphology - RBC (Red Blood Cells)	RBC (Red Blood Cells) [106 × µL-1] determined on the MYTHIC 18 hematology analyzer (Orphee Medical, Geneva, Switzerland).	At rest (before the test), directly after the test, and after a 1-hour recovery period.
The Blood morphology- HGB (Hemoglobin)	HGB (Hemoglobin) [g/dL] determined on the MYTHIC 18 hematology analyzer (Orphee Medical, Geneva, Switzerland).	At rest (before the test), directly after the test, and after a 1-hour recovery period.
The Blood morphology- HCT (Hematocrit)	HCT (Hematocrit) [%]determined on the MYTHIC 18 hematology analyzer (Orphee Medical, Geneva, Switzerland).	At rest (before the test), directly after the test, and after a 1-hour recovery period.
The Blood morphology- MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume)	MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume)[fl] determined on the MYTHIC 18 hematology analyzer (Orphee Medical, Geneva, Switzerland).	At rest (before the test), directly after the test, and after a 1-hour recovery period.
The Blood morphology- MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin)	MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin) [pg] determined on the MYTHIC 18 hematology analyzer (Orphee Medical, Geneva, Switzerland).	At rest (before the test), directly after the test, and after a 1-hour recovery period.
The Blood morphology- MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration)	MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration) [g x dL-1] determined on the MYTHIC 18 hematology analyzer (Orphee Medical, Geneva, Switzerland).	At rest (before the test), directly after the test, and after a 1-hour recovery period.
The Blood morphology- RDW (Red Blood cells Distribution Width)	RDW (Red Blood cells Distribution Width) [%] determined on the MYTHIC 18 hematology analyzer (Orphee Medical, Geneva, Switzerland).	At rest (before the test), directly after the test, and after a 1-hour recovery period.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Food record - energy	Participants will prepare a food record. The results will be calculated using the dietetykpro program: energy [kcal]	Day before the Day 1, in the morning at Day 1
Food record - protein	Participants will prepare a food record. The results will be calculated using the dietetykpro program: protein [g]	Day before the Day 1, in the morning at Day 1
Food record - carobhydrates	Participants will prepare a food record. The results will be calculated using the dietetykpro program: carbohydrates [g]	Day before the Day 1, in the morning at Day 1
Food record - fiber	Participants will prepare a food record. The results will be calculated using the dietetykpro program: fiber [g]	Day before the Day 1, in the morning at Day 1
Food record - fat	Participants will prepare a food record. The results will be calculated using the dietetykpro program: fat [g]	Day before the Day 1, in the morning at Day 1
Antropometric characteristic - height	Prior to the exercise test, the investigators measured the anthropometric parameters, including height (Seca 213 Hamburg, Deutschland) [cm]	Day 1 after overall fast
Antropometric characteristic - weight	Prior to the exercise test, the investigators measured the anthropometric parameters, including weight (Tanita BC 418 MA, Tanita Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) [kg]	Day 1 after overall fast

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Poznan University of Physical Education

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 10, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): June 10, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 10, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 10, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 17, 2025
• Last Verified: March 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Metabolic Diseases; Hematologic Diseases; Anemia; Iron Metabolism Disorders; Anemia, Hypochromic; Iron Deficiencies; Inflammation; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency
• Other Study ID Numbers: WIOSŁA2023

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No