Effects of Exercise and Short Term Rapid Weight Loss on Whole Blood Cells and Lymphocyte Subsets in Highly Trained National Level Wrestlers (EX-RWL-Lymphoc)

Effects of Exercise and Short-Term Rapid Weight Loss on Whole Blood Cells and Lymphocyte Subsets in Highly Trained National-Level Wrestlers: A Two-Phase Repeated-Measures Study

Wrestling is a weight-classified sport in which athletes frequently apply rapid weight loss (RWL) strategies prior to competition. While the performance-related consequences of RWL have been widely investigated, its combined effects with exercise on hematological parameters and immune cell profiles remain insufficiently understood. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effects of short-term weight loss and exercise on whole blood cell parameters and lymphocyte subsets in elite wrestlers.

Nine elite male wrestlers actively competing in the senior category (mean age: 22.90 ± 5.15 years; mean height: 1.75 m) voluntarily participated in this study. Athletes will achieve an average body mass reduction of 4.3% over a five-day period. Venous blood samples will be collected at 09:30 a.m. in a fasted state during two experimental phases: (1) Exercise-only phase, with blood sampling before and after exercise (BRWL1 and BRWL2); (2) Exercise plus weight loss phase, following the five-day weight loss period, with blood sampling before and after exercise (ARWL1 and ARWL2). Complete blood count parameters will be analyzed using an automated hematology analyzer, while lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD19+, CD16/56+) will be assessed by flow cytometry. Statistical analyses will be performed with a significance level set at p < 0.05.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Weight Loss; Exercise
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Exercise; Other: Rapid Weight Loss

Detailed Description

See brief summary for study protocol details

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 9
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Ankara
    • Ankara, Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye), 06000
      • Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University Sports Sciences Laboratory

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being between 18 and 35 years of age
• Being clinically healthy
• Actively competing in wrestling
• Having regular training experience
• No history of chronic disease
• No musculoskeletal injury that could affect performance
• Not using any medication or nutritional supplements that could influence hematological or biochemical parameters during the study period
• Willing to volunteer and provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having any chronic disease (e.g., cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, or neurological disorders)
• Having a recent musculoskeletal injury that could affect exercise performance
• Using medications, ergogenic aids, or nutritional supplements that might influence hematological or biochemical parameters
• Having a history of smoking or alcohol abuse
• Failing to complete the testing procedures and training protocol required for the study
• Not providing written informed consent
• Withdrawing voluntarily during the study period

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Sequential Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Exercise; Participants performed a standardized wrestling exercise session on the first day of testing. Venous blood samples were collected pre- and post-exercise (pre-exercise: BRWL1; post-exercise: BRWL2) to evaluate hematological and lymphocyte subset responses.	Other: Exercise; Standardized wrestling exercise session; pre- and post-exercise venous blood collected; Other Names: Behavioral
Other: Exercise + Rapid Weight Loss; Participants underwent a 5-day rapid weight loss protocol prior to the exercise session, achieving an average body mass reduction of 4.3%. On the fifth day, the same standardized exercise protocol as Group 1 was performed, and pre- and post-exercise blood samples were collected (pre-exercise: ARWL1; post-exercise: ARWL2) to evaluate hematological and lymphocyte subset responses.	Other: Exercise; Standardized wrestling exercise session; pre- and post-exercise venous blood collected; Other Names: Behavioral; Other: Rapid Weight Loss; 5-day rapid weight loss protocol achieving average 4.3% body mass reduction

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Leukocyte Count	Change in total white blood cell (WBC) count measured from pre- to post-exercise	Pre- and post-exercise (Day 1 for Exercise Only group; Day 5 for Exercise + Rapid Weight Loss group)
Change in Lymphocyte Percentage	Change in percentage of lymphocytes relative to total WBC count, measured from pre- to post-exercise.	Pre- and post-exercise (Day 1 for Exercise Only group; Day 5 for Exercise + Rapid Weight Loss group)
Change in CD3+ T Cell Count	Change in absolute count of CD3+ T lymphocytes measured from pre- to post-exercise.	Pre- and post-exercise (Day 1 for Exercise Only group; Day 5 for Exercise + Rapid Weight Loss group)
Change in CD4+ T Cell Count	Change in absolute count of CD4+ helper T lymphocytes measured from pre- to post-exercise.	Pre- and post-exercise (Day 1 for Exercise Only group; Day 5 for Exercise + Rapid Weight Loss group)
Change in CD8+ T Cell Count	Change in absolute count of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes measured from pre- to post-exercise.	Pre- and post-exercise (Day 1 for Exercise Only group; Day 5 for Exercise + Rapid Weight Loss group)
Change in CD19+ B Cell Count	Change in absolute count of CD19+ B lymphocytes measured from pre- to post-exercise.	Pre- and post-exercise (Day 1 for Exercise Only group; Day 5 for Exercise + Rapid Weight Loss group)
Change in CD16/56+ NK Cell Count	Change in absolute count of CD16/56+ natural killer (NK) cells measured from pre- to post-exercise.	Pre- and post-exercise (Day 1 for Exercise Only group; Day 5 for Exercise + Rapid Weight Loss group)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Creatine Kinase and Lactic Acid Levels	Serum creatine kinase (CK) and lactic acid (LA) levels measured to assess anaerobic performance and muscle damage.	Pre-exercise and post-exercise (Day 1 for Exercise Only group; Day 5 for Exercise + Rapid Weight Loss group)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ankara Yildirim Beyazıt University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 21, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 3, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): October 10, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 22, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 28, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 5, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 15, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 13, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Exercise; Immune System; Flow Cytometry; Lymphocyte Subsets; Complete Blood Count; Rapid Weight Loss
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Body Weight; Body Weight Changes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Behavior; Signs and Symptoms; Weight Loss; Motor Activity; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena; Exercise
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2280

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