The aim of this study was to monitor the haematological response of female athletes with moderately low ferritin values to an iron injection. We measured the total haemoglobin mass of 11 female basketballers with a range of ferritin values who lived and trained together for the duration of the study (age 18+/-1, range 16-19 yrs), [Hb] 12.4+/-1.3, 11.5-16.1 g x dL; ferritin 35.6+/-15.6, 9-58 microg x L). A total dose of 2.5 mL Ferrum H was administered to six squad members who were matched with the remaining five controls based on ferritin measures obtained three weeks earlier. Venous blood samples were drawn weekly to obtain full blood counts, reticulocyte parameters as well as iron profiles. There was no change detected in any of the haematological parameters measured in the treatment group compared to controls. A repeated measures ANOVA (treatment x time) demonstrated that neither total haemoglobin mass (P = 0.91) nor [Hb] (P = 0.79) altered significantly between groups, whilst the mean haemoglobin content of reticulocytes also showed no response (P = 0.17). Because a positive haematological response is definitive evidence of impaired red cell production, our results indicate that none of the athletes were iron deficient at the time of the injection. This suggests that low ferritin values in trained female athletes are not always associated with impaired red cell production.

While in vitro studies suggest that H2-receptor blockade enhances mediator release from bronchial mast cells and leads to bronchoconstriction, in vivo studies have given conflicting results. Eight asthmatic subjects were given cimetidine 800 mg and placebo double-blind on different days. Baseline values of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were obtained before an 8 min standardized exercise test using a bicycle ergometer. Subjects inhaled cold, dry air and exercise on cimetidine and placebo days was matched for ventilation and thermal load. FEV1 was measured immediately, 5, 10, 15, and 20 min after exercise. No significant differences were observed between mean baseline FEV1, immediate post exercise FEV1, or maximum percentage fall from baseline after exercise on cimetidine or placebo days. Cimetidine does not appear to effect lung function or bronchial responses to cold air exercise challenge.

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