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Beneficial effects of the whole-body cryotherapy on sport haemolysis

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BANFI GIUSEPPE
BANFI GIUSEPPE
BANFI GIUSEPPE
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MELEGATI GIANLUCA
MELEGATI GIANLUCA
MELEGATI GIANLUCA
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Alessandra Barassi at University of Milan
Alessandra Barassi
GIANVICO MELZI D’ERIL
GIANVICO MELZI D’ERIL
GIANVICO MELZI D’ERIL
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Abstract

Background. Sport’s anemia is a common risk for athletes. The principal source of an accelerated turnover of the erythrocytes in sportsmen is the intravascular hemolysis. This phenomenon is induced by mechanical breakage for impact of feet and muscular contractions, but also by osmotic changes causing membrane fragility, typically evident after exercise, when free radicals are increased. Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) covers a wide range of therapeutic applications and consists of briefly exposing the body to extremely cold air. In sports medicine, WBC is used to improve recovery from muscle injury; however, empirical studies on its application to this area are lacking. Design and Methods. We recruited ten rugby players of the Italian National Team. In these athletes we measured hematological parameters, before including mean sphered cell volume (MSCV) by means of Coulter LH750, besides of haptoglobin, and after WBC. The subjects underwent five sessions on alternate days once daily for one week. During the study period, the training workload was the same as that of the previous weeks. Results. We observed in the athletes increase of haptoglobin and an increase of MSCV after the treament period. Conclusions. WBC reduces sports haemolysis, as judged from MSCV and haptoglobin data, supported from other haematological values, as well as the absence of mean corpuscolar volume and reticulocytes increase. The treatment is useful to prevent the physiological impairments derived from sport haemolysis.
BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF THE WHOLE-BODY CRYOTHERAPY ON SPORT HAEMOLYS
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Journal of Human Sport & Exercise Vol IV No II 2009 189-193
BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF THE WHOLE-BODY CRYOTHERAPY ON
SPORT HAEMOLYSIS
Giuseppe Banfi
1,2
, Gianluca Melegati
2,3
, Alessandra Barassi
1,4
, Gianvico Melzi d’Eril
1,4
1
School of Medicine, University of Milan, Italy.
2
IRCCS Galeazzi, Milan, Italy.
3
Italian Rugby
Federation, Rome, Italy.
4
Laboratorio Analisi, Ospedale San Paolo, Milan, Italy
Received: 28 November 2008; received in revised form: 15 February 2009; accepted: 20 March 2009
ABSTRACT
Background. Sport’s anemia is a common risk for athletes. The principal source of an accelerated
turnover of the erythrocytes in sportsmen is the intravascular hemolysis. This phenomenon is induced
by mechanical breakage for impact of feet and muscular contractions, but also by osmotic changes
causing membrane fragility, typically evident after exercise, when free radicals are increased. Whole-
body cryotherapy (WBC) covers a wide range of therapeutic applications and consists of briefly
exposing the body to extremely cold air. In sports medicine, WBC is used to improve recovery from
muscle injury; however, empirical studies on its application to this area are lacking. Design and
Methods. We recruited ten rugby players of the Italian National Team. In these athletes we measured
hematological parameters, before including mean sphered cell volume (MSCV) by means of Coulter
LH750, besides of haptoglobin, and after WBC. The subjects underwent five sessions on alternate
days once daily for one week. During the study period, the training workload was the same as that of
the previous weeks. Results. We observed in the athletes increase of haptoglobin and an increase of
MSCV after the treament period. Conclusions. WBC reduces sports haemolysis, as judged from
MSCV and haptoglobin data, supported from other haematological values, as well as the absence of
mean corpuscolar volume and reticulocytes increase. The treatment is useful to prevent the
physiological impairments derived from sport haemolysis.
Key words: Haemolysis, athletes, MSCV, haptoglobin, rugby
Reference Data: Banfi G, Melegati G, Barassi A, d’Eril GM.
Beneficial effects of the whole-body
cryotherapy on sport haemolysis. J. Hum. Sport Exerc. 2009; 4(2):189-193.
Corresponding author. School of Medicine, University of Milan, via Festa del Perdono 7 – 20122, Milan,
Italy.
Email: giuseppe.banfi1@unimi.it
© 2009 University of Alicante. Faculty of Education.
DOI:10.4100/jhse.2009.42.11
Journal of Human Sport and Exercise online
J. Hum. Sport Exerc.
Official Journal of the Area of Physical Education and Sport.
Faculty of Education. University of Alicante. Spain
ISSN 1988-5202 / DOI 10.4100/jhse
An International Electronic Journal
Volume 4 Number 2 July 2009
Research Article
Banfi G, Melegati G, Barassi A, d’Eril GM. / J. Hum. Sport Exerc. 2 (2009) 189-193 190
© 2009 University of Alicante. Faculty of Education. ISSN 1988-5202
INTRODUCTION
Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) consists of brief exposure to extreme cold in a
temperature-controlled chamber (–110°C). It is applied to relieve pain and inflammatory
symptoms caused by numerous disorders, particularly those associated with rheumatic
conditions, and is recommended for the treatment of arthritis, fibromyalgia and ankylosing
spondylitis. In sports medicine, WBC has gained wider acceptance as a method to improve
recovery from muscle injury; however, no controlled studies have been published so far.
In sports medicine, WBC is also now popular and it is known for improving recovery from
muscular traumas, although controlled studies have not been published. The treatment is not
dangerous for lung function (Smolander et al., 2006), and did not decrease the antioxidant
capacity (Dugué et al., 2005). We demonstrated that WBC does not enhance haematological
values, as judged from concentrations of haemoglobin and of number of erythrocytes,
reticulocytes, leukocytes, and platelets (Banfi et al., 2008) and the treatment is beneficial for
muscle metabolism and , contemporarily, not dangerous for immunological system (Banfi et
al., 2008). We demonstrated that decreased levels of the haematological parameter mean
sphered cell volume (MSCV) are related to sports haemolysis (Banfi et al., 2007).
In general, WBC does not appear to be harmful; indeed, it may be beneficial for athletes
since prompt recovery from muscle injury is a primary concern for both athletes and sports
physicians alike. Despite the wealth of literature on rehabilitation techniques, published data
on WBC in rehabilitation programs are scarce. Studying the effects of WBC can have
practical value not only for many physiological and clinical purposes, but also for
determining clinical significance in the context of antidoping testing, since techniques that
accelerate recovery may be classified as prohibited. Furthermore, post-WBC treatment
changes in biochemical and hematological parameters could result outside the threshold
range imposed by sports federations and official control agencies, with the athletes classified
as being doped, or could be interpreted as an attempt to mask changes caused by illicit
treatment different from WBC.
The aim of this study was to determine whether WBC had a positive effect on eryhtrocyte
metabolism, particularly during the recovery from exertional damage, which is characterized
from haemolysis. Biochemical and immunological markers were measured at baseline and
after one week of WBC treatment (five once daily sessions) in ten male rugby players
selected randomly from the Italian National team.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Ten male athletes (mean age 26±2.5 years; mean body-mass index 27.5±2.3 kg/m2)
underwent once daily WBC treatment for five days (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday,
and Saturday) at the Olympic Rehabilitation Center of Spała (Poland). Wearing minimal
clothing, the subjects were first exposed to very cold air (30 s at –60°C) then to extremely
cold air (2 min at –110°C). They reported an improved sense of general well-being and no
discomfort or disturbance.
Banfi G, Melegati G, Barassi A, d’Eril GM. / J. Hum. Sport Exerc. 2 (2009) 189-193 191
© 2009 University of Alicante. Faculty of Education. ISSN 1988-5202
During the study period, the subjects continued with their regular training. The workload was
the same as in the previous six weeks. Training consisted of three hours of daily exercises:
one hour of maximal training in the morning, followed by one hour of submaximal effort,
then one hour of submaximal training in the afternoon, in addition to conditioning exercises.
No illnesses occurred during the study period. Diet was controlled and identical to that of the
previous six weeks.
The ten subjects were chosen randomly from the Italian National rugby team (30 athletes). All
gave informed consent to the study protocol. Blood samples were drawn by Vacutainer tubes
at 8 a.m. on the first day of treatment (Monday) and then at the end of treatment on the
following Monday. The time period from the last intense training session was the same for
both blood drawings.
The sera were separated within 3 hours from drawing and stored at –20°C until assayed. The
haematological tests were performed three hours from drawing on Coulter LH750 (Coulter,
Hialeah, USA), regularly controlled and calibrated. Haptoglobin was measured on BN
Prospec (Dade, Marburg, Germany), regularly controlled and calibrated. Coefficients of
variation were <2% for haematological values and <4% for haptoglobin.
Statistical analysis was performed by using paired t test on MedCalc program (Mariawerke,
Belgium). Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
RESULTS
Mean concentration of haptoglobin before WBC was 56.6 mg/L (SD:33.5) and 75.2 mg/L
(SD:40.7) after the treatment (p<0.05). MSCV increased from 84.6 fL (SD:3.4) to 87.6 fL (
SD:4.4; p<0.05).
The number of leukocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets was not modified after the treatment.
Haemoglobin significantly decreased, when haematocrit was unmodified. It is particularly
interesting the data about classical erythrocytes parameters. Mean corpuscular volume was
unmodified (89.5±3.7 fL before, 89.4±3.9 after WBC), whereas statistical significance was
demonstrated (p<0.01) for mean corpuscular haemoglobin (from 31.2±1.5 to 30.5±1.3 pg) and
for mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (from 34.9±0.4 to 34.2±0.3 g/dL), according
to the decrease of total haemoglobin. Reticulocytes were unmodified.
DISCUSSION
The athletes should be accurately monitored by means of haematological parameters for
avoiding risk of sports’ anemia, linked to various sources: haemodilution during the initial
training, insufficient iron intake, but, in particular, to iron loss due to intravascular
haemolysis, typically occurring in exercise. Modern haematological systems supply a wide
series of RBC and Ret parameters with high accuracy and precision, but clinical validity and
application are not completely known for some of these “new” parameters. Iron turnover is
accelerated in athletes because of haemolysis, particularly in endurance sports and when an
impact of the feet on surfaces happen, inducing mechanical damage of RBC. Thus,
haemolysis could be considered the principal source of increased RBC turnover and possible
risk of sports’ anemia, when destroyed RBC are not promptly and adequately recovered by
the bone marrow production and release (Telford et al., 2003).
Banfi G, Melegati G, Barassi A, d’Eril GM. / J. Hum. Sport Exerc. 2 (2009) 189-193 192
© 2009 University of Alicante. Faculty of Education. ISSN 1988-5202
Haemolysis should be diagnosed by the decrease of haptoglobin, which captures free
haemoglobin released from destroyed RBC. Haptoglobin is, however, an acute phase protein
and its serum concentration could be influenced by pathologies and also by physical exercise:
in the ultramarathon the protein increased after 4 and 11 days out of 16 days of race (Fallon et
al., 1999); haptoglobin concentration has been found to be depressed after marathon running
(Davidson et al., 1987). The increase of haptoglobin does not exclude the intravascular
haemolysis, but means that the intensity of the acute phase reaction is wider than haemolysis
phenomenon. Moreover, haptoglobin shows high biological variability (7.9% interindividual
and 20% intraindividual) with an index of individuality of 0.72 (Maes et al., 1995). This
means that the values should be always interpreted by comparison with basal ones, but in
athletes it could be difficult because of traumas, inflammation, and drugs taken for these
reasons. The use of MSCV simply obtained in CBC can be precious for demonstrating
haemolysis in athlete, avoiding a series of further tests and also unnecessary instrumental
investigations, as we demonstrated in top-level rugby players during a whole season (Banfi et
al., 2007).
In conclusion, WBC reduces sports haemolysis, as judged from MSCV and haptoglobin data,
supported from other haematological values, as well as the absence of mean corpuscolar
volume and reticulocytes increase. The treatment is useful to prevent the physiological
impairments derived from sport haemolysis.
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3. BANFI G, MELEGATI G, BARASSI A, DOGLIOTTI G, MELZI D’ERIL G,
DUGUÉ B, CORSI MM. Effects of whole-body cryotherapy on serum mediators of
inflammation and serum muscle enzymes in athletes. Thermal Biol 2009 (in press).
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Thesis
  • Dec 2016
Cette thèse a été effectuée sous le couvert d’une convention CIFRE issue d’une collaboration entre la Société Cryantal (Lognes, France) et les laboratoires universitaires C3S (EA 4660) et MOVE (EA 6314) de Franche-Comté et de Poitiers. Elle a été articulée autour du développement d’une nouvelle technologie de chambre de Cryothérapie Corps Entier (CCE). Le travail mené au cours de ces quatre années a eu pour objectifs : 1) L’identification des besoins technologiques et méthodologiques à partir d’études conduites sur le terrain et de l’analyse de la littérature scientifique ; 2) Le développement d’un prototype de chambre CCE à partir des besoins identifiés ; 3) La validation technologique du prototype en vue de son industrialisation ; 4) D’apporter des perspectives d’évolutions futures pour le développement du prototype afin qu’il devienne une chambre CEE commercialisable. Afin de répondre à ces objectifs, la thèse a été divisée en deux parties distinctes.La première partie met en évidence les applications pratiques et les besoins technologiques afin d’identifier les limites et avantages des différentes méthodes et techniques utilisées en vue du développement d’un nouveau prototype de chambre CCE. Les études conduites sur le terrain dans les conditions réelles de compétition ont montré que la CCE n’était pas vécue comme une contrainte importante par les athlètes et qu’elle leur permettait d’améliorer la qualité de leur sommeil perçu. Nous avons également montré que des individus avec un indice de masse corporel moins élevé supportaient moins bien les expositions au froid extrême en cabine comparé à ceux possédant un indice de masse corporel plus important. La revue de littérature scientifique a mis en évidence le manque crucial de données valides concernant les températures d’exposition dans les chambres et cabines. Elle pointe également pour la première fois, l’ensemble des protocoles d’expositions utilisés à ce jour dans les domaines d’applications relatifs aux pathologies traumatiques et de récupération physique. Elle crée le lien indispensable entre les différents domaines d’utilisation de la CCE et les différentes technologies utilisées.La seconde partie expose l’ensemble du développement technologique du prototype de la nouvelle chambre CCE, sa validation et son optimisation pour pouvoir prétendre à sa commercialisation. Elle comporte une étude scientifique de validation technologique du prototype de chambre de CCE basé sur la variation de la température cutanée des individus exposés. Les résultats ont montré que les variations de température cutanée engendrées par l’exposition avec la nouvelle technologie étaient similaires aux variations rapportées avec les autres technologies existantes. Les mesures préliminaires réalisées sur le prototype ont permis d’apporter des perspectives d’évolutions futures en vue de la commercialisation de la chambre.
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Cryostimulation as Adjunct Treatment in Psychiatric Disorders
Chapter
  • Nov 2015
Currently, the use of medications is the standard and most common method of biological treatment in psychiatry. However, sometimes pharmacotherapy does not lead to remission, so research is being carried out into other, non-pharmacological strategies of treatment. There is a need for developing new therapies such as cryostimulation that can be used as adjunct psychiatric therapy. The mechanisms of action of hypothermic protection are not entirely understood. The response of the human body to cold occurs through the changes in the endocrine, circulatory, nervous–muscular, and immunological systems. Cryostimulation has been found useful in neurological and psychiatric disorders, especially depression. It seems that cryostimulation may be used as adjuvant therapy in the treatment of diseases with oxidative stress background since it improves the antioxidant capacity of organism. In this study, the physiology and neuroprotection of hypothermia and influence of cryostimulation on oxidative stress in psychiatric disorders especially depression are presented. The effects of cryostimulation in multiple sclerosis depressive patients are shown.
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Effects of whole-body cryotherapy on serum mediators of inflammation and serum muscle enzymes in athletes
Article
Full-text available
  • Feb 2009
  • J THERM BIOL
Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) covers a wide range of therapeutic applications and consists of briefly exposing the body to extremely cold air. In sports medicine, WBC is used to improve recovery from muscle injury; however, empirical studies on its application to this area are lacking. To fill this gap, we compared changes in immunological parameters (C3, IgA, IgM, IgG, C-reactive protein, PGE2), cytokines (IL-2, IL-8, IL-10), adhesion molecules (sICAM-1), and muscle enzymes (creatine kinase [CK], lactate dehydrogenase [LAD]) before and after WBC in 10 top-level Italian National team rugby players. The subjects underwent five sessions on alternate days once daily for 1 week. During the study period, the training workload was the same as that of the previous weeks. Compared to baseline values, immunological parameters remained unchanged, while CK and LAD levels significantly decreased after treatment. No alterations in immunological function were observed but there is a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokine/chemokine and an increase in anti-inflammatory cytokine.As measured by changes in serum CK and LAD concentrations, and cytokines pathway, short-term cold air exposure was found to improve recovery from exercise-induced muscle injury and/or damage associated with intense physical training.
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Footstrike is the major cause of hemolysis during running
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2003
There is a wide body of literature reporting red cell hemolysis as occurring after various forms of exercise. Whereas the trauma associated with footstrike is thought to be the major cause of hemolysis after running, its significance compared with hemolysis that results from other circulatory stresses on the red blood cell has not been thoroughly addressed. To investigate the significance of footstrike, we measured the degree of hemolysis after 1 h of running. To control for the potential effects of oxidative and circulatory stresses on the red blood cell, the same subjects cycled for 1 h at equivalent oxygen uptake. Our subjects were 10 male triathletes, who each completed two separate 1-h sessions of running and cycling at 75% peak oxygen uptake, which were performed in random order 1 wk apart. Plasma free hemoglobin and serum haptoglobin concentrations were measured as indicators of hemolysis. We also measured methemoglobin as a percentage of total hemoglobin immediately postexercise as an indicator of red cell oxidative stress. Plasma free hemoglobin increased after both running (P < 0.01) and cycling (P < 0.01), but the increase was fourfold greater after running (P < 0.01). This was reflected by a significant fall in haptoglobin 1 h after the running trials, whereas no significant changes occurred after cycling at any sample point. Methemoglobin increased twofold after both running and cycling (P < 0.01), with no significant differences between modes of exercise. The present data indicate that, whereas general circulatory trauma to the red blood cells associated with 1 h of exercise at 75% maximal oxygen uptake may result in some exercise-induced hemolysis, footstrike is the major contributor to hemolysis during running.
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Acute and long-term effects of winter swimming and whole-body cryotherapy on plasma antioxidative capacity in healthy women
Article
Full-text available
  • Feb 2005
The effects of severe cold stress on total peroxyl radical trapping antioxidant capacity of plasma (TRAP) were studied in two groups of healthy women: a whole-body cryotherapy group (WBC, n = 10) and a winter swimming group (WS, n = 10). The biovariability of TRAP values was also analysed. The WBC group was exposed to -110 degrees C for 2 min, whereas the exposure for the WS group lasted 20 s in ice-cold water. Sessions were organized three times per week for 12 weeks. Blood specimens were collected at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks at rest, 2 and 35 min after the cold exposures and at the corresponding times without cold exposure on a separate day. Conventional methods were used to determine TRAP values. The between-subject variation was 13.6% and the within-subject variation 6.4%. The index of individuality was 0.46, and the index of heterogeneity was 0.079. These results indicate a marked heterogeneity among subjects. During the first 4 weeks, the mean TRAP value significantly increased at 2 min after cold exposure in the WBC group, returning to baseline 35 min after the exposure. Similar changes were observed in the WS group. However, all changes due to cold were relatively mild (<5%). After 4 weeks no changes in TRAP values after the cold exposures were noticed and no long-term changes in basal TRAP values were observed. In the main, regular WBC and WS do not seem to be harmful as far as plasma antioxidative capacity is concerned.
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Lung function after acute and repeated exposures to extremely cold air (−110°C) during whole‐body cryotherapy
Article
Full-text available
  • Aug 2006
  • CLIN PHYSIOL FUNCT I
Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) is one mode of cold therapy, during which rheumatic patients are exposed to very cold air (-110 degrees C) in minimal clothing. It is also proposed to have a bronchodilatory effect. The aim was to examine the effects of WBC on lung function in healthy humans after acute and repeated exposures. Twenty-five healthy, non-smoking subjects participated in the study. They were exposed to WBC for 2 min three times per week for 12 weeks. The peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) were measured before and after (at 2 and 30 min) the first WBC, and then similarly at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. At all time points, after 30 min of the WBC the PEF values were slightly lower compared with values before the WBC, and the reductions reached statistical significance at 1 month (5.1 +/- 1.2%), and at 3 months (3.2 +/- 1.7%). After 30 min of the first WBC, the FEV1 was significantly reduced by 2.3 +/- 0.8%, but no other changes were observed during the study. In conclusion, the WBC induced minor bronchoconstriction in healthy humans instead of proposed bronchodilatation. The WBC seems not to be harmful for lung function, but should be used with caution in susceptible individuals.
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Hematological Changes Associated with Marathon Running
Article
  • Mar 1987
Coulter profiles with differential white cell counts, serum ferritin, and haptoglobin levels were determined in venous blood samples obtained from 90 males (M) and 25 females (F) immediately before and after completion of a competitive marathon (42.2 km) race. In an additional 20 male runners, the same measurements were performed serially during the 24 h following their completion of the race. In the pre-race samples from 90 M and 25 F, hypoferritinemia was present in 4/22 M and 1 F found to be mildly anemic. Neutropenia was detected in 4 M and 3 F and mild thrombocytopenia in 2 M. Haptoglobin levels were normal in all the female runners but reduced (<0.3 g/l) in 6 M. All post-race samples (88 M and 25 F) were characterized by a reactive neutrophilia and thrombocytosis including those with pre-race neutropenia or thrombocytopenia. An unexpected and incompletely explained sex difference in packed cell volume (PCV) response was observed. In males, the mean PCV increased from 0.425 ± 0.021 to 0.444 ± 0.028 (P < 0.0001) whereas in females it decreased from 0.437 ± 0.029 to 0.423 ± 0.036 (P < 0.05). In the post-race samples, anhaptoglobinemia was found in 13/88 M and 4/25 F. In the 20 male runners studied serially for 24 h after the race, the major changes involved a progressive increase in mean plasma volume (17.4% ± 12.2% at 24 h) compared with the pre-race value, a progressive and significant increase in MCH and MCHC probably indicating a loss in red cell water and the gradual reversion of the reactive neutrophilia and thrombocytosis to basal levels.
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Components of biological variation in plasma haptoglobin: relationships to plasma fibrinogen and immune variables, including interleukin-6 and its receptor
Article
  • Aug 1995
  • CLIN CHIM ACTA
We investigated the components of biological variation, including seasonality, in plasma haptoglobin (Hp) levels and the relationships between plasma Hp and interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6), sIL-2R, fibrinogen (Fb) and absolute number of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, such as leukocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, CD4+, CD8+, CD25+ T cells and CD20+ B cells. Monthly blood samples were taken from 26 normal volunteers during one calendar year. The estimated inter- and intra-individual C.V. values for plasma Hp were 27.9% and 20.0%, respectively; the index of individuality was 0.72. No significant seasonal rhythms could be detected in plasma Hp levels. The yearly mean values in plasma Hp were significantly and positively related to those in plasma Fb, absolute number of leukocytes, neutrophils, CD4+ T cells and the CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio. 49.0% of the variance in the yearly mean values of plasma Hp could be explained by variances in serum IL-6 and number of CD4+ (positively related) and CD8+ (negatively related) T cells. There were significant and positive time relationships between plasma Hp, on the one hand, and plasma Fb, sIL-6R, sIL-2R and number of leukocytes, neutrophils and monocytes, on the other. A smaller part of the within-subject variability in plasma Hp (i.e. 6.0%) could be explained by serum sIL-6R and sIL-2R. It is concluded that there are (1) important between-subject differences in the homeostatic setpoints of plasma Hp, which are related to those in plasma Fb and in immune status and (2) significant within-subject, time relationships between plasma Hp and indicators of immune activation and plasma Fb.
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Changes in haematological parameters and iron metabolism associated with a 1600 kilometre ultramarathon
Article
  • Mar 1999
To investigate haematological variations and iron related changes in the serum of participants in a 1600 kilometre ultramarathon run. Seven male and two female participants in a 1600 km foot race. Blood samples were obtained from the participants before, after four and 11 days of running, and at the end of the event. Samples were analysed by standard methods for haemoglobin, packed cell volume, total red cell count, mean red cell volume, mean red cell haemoglobin, total white cell count and differential, platelets, reticulocytes, iron, ferritin, total iron binding capacity, percentage transferrin saturation, haptoglobin, and bilirubin and corrected for changes in plasma volume. The following variables decreased during the event (p < 0.05): haemoglobin, packed cell volume, mean red cell volume, percentage lymphocytes, percentage monocytes, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, and percentage transferrin saturation. Increases (p < 0.05) were found in plasma volume, total red cell count (day 4 only), total white cell count, percentage and absolute numbers of neutrophils and reticulocytes, absolute numbers of lymphocytes and monocytes (day 4 only), absolute numbers of eosinophils (day 11 and race end), absolute numbers of basophils (race end only), platelets, ferritin, haptoglobin, and bilirubin (day 4 only). Ultramarathon running is associated with a wide range of changes in haematological parameters, many of which are related to the normal acute phase response to injury. These should not be confused with indicators of disease.
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Decreased Mean Sphered Cell Volume Values in Top-Level Rugby Players are Related to the Intravascular Hemolysis Induced by Exercise
Article
  • Feb 2007
  • Lab Hematol
Sports anemia is a common risk for athletes. Intravasclar hemolysis is the principal source of an accelerated turnover of erythrocytes in sportsmen. The hemolysis induces some biochemical and hematological modifications; in particular, high concentrations of total and indirect (unconjugated) bilirubin could be reported in professional athletes. We recruited 24 rugby players of the Italian National Team. In these athletes we measured hematological parameters, including mean sphered cell volume (MSCV) by means of Coulter LH 750 (Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA, USA), beside biochemical parameters, including bilirubin and haptoglobin. We observed differences in the athletes' indirect bilirubin between the blood drawing performed before the start of training and competitions and the one performed at the end of the competition season. The bilirubin was increased during competition season from 7% to 329% when compared with the baseline value measured before training and competitions. MSCV, in contrast, decreased from a mean of 88.4 fL to 86 fL. The MSCV decrease in association with an indirect bilirubin increase is a specific sign of erythrocyte destruction, and specific training and competitions schemes and diet or therapy modifications should be decided according to their values. The modifications of MSCV are correlated with those of haptoglobin and hemoglobin, but not with reticulocytosis.
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Lung function after acute and repeated exposures to extremely cold rBanfi Faculty of Education. ISSN 1988-5202 air (-110 degrees C) during whole-body cryotherapy
  • 189-193
  • Mikkelson G G Melegati
  • A Barassi
  • Eril
SMOLANDER J, WESTERLUND T, UUSITALO A, DUGUÉ B, OKSA J, MIKKELSON M. Lung function after acute and repeated exposures to extremely cold rBanfi G, Melegati G, Barassi A, d’Eril GM. / J. Hum. Sport Exerc. 2 (2009) 189-193 193 © 2009 University of Alicante. Faculty of Education. ISSN 1988-5202 air (-110 degrees C) during whole-body cryotherapy. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging. 2006; 26:232-4. [Abstract] [Back to text]