Objective-To evaluate the relation between iron status and physical working capacity, and to assess the effect of oral iron treatment on these variables, in athletes with borderline iron status. Methods-Blood haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell count (RBC), serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), and ferritin determinations were compared in 71 male and 18 female athletes participating in various sports and in matched male (n = 11) and female (n =8) controls. The first aim was to assess the relations between these variables and performance in a physical work capacity test (PWC170).Oral iron treatment (175-350 mg ferrous fumarate daily) was provided for three weeks to six male and five female athletes with borderline Hb concentrations, to determine the effects of such treatment on both iron status and performance.Results-Among females, handball players had the lowest serum ferritin concentrations (P < 0.05), the highest TIBC values, and lowest PWC170 scores (P < 0.01); runners had the highest ferritin concentrations and PWC170 scores (P < 0.01). There were significant correlations (P < 0.01) between PWC170 and PCV, serum ferritin, and transferrin saturation of female athletes. Hb, serum iron, serum ferritin, and transferrin saturation increased with iron treatment in both males (P < 0.01) and females (P < 0.05). Conclusions-Serum ferritin determination may prove a valuable addition to the screening of athletes and may indicate the need for iron treatment, even though a causal effect on improvement of work capacity may not be present. (BrJ Sports Med 1996;30:15-19)

BackgroundParaoxonase 1 (PON1) is an antioxidant enzyme that protects high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein against oxidation. Limited studies have addressed the influence of exercise on PON1 activity and its relationship with PON1 phenotypes. We investigated relationships between PON1-192 phenotypes, PON1 activity, aerobic exercise, and blood lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in middle-aged women.MethodsAn exercise group (n = 50) engaging in regular aerobic exercise and a control group (n = 41) were selected from a subset of 300 Caucasian women that met the inclusion criteria. Serum PON1, salt-stimulated PON1 (SSPON1), and arylesterase (ARE) activities; cholesterol levels and ARE activities of total HDL and HDL subgroups (HDLs) (supernatants obtained by polyethylene glycol); and blood lipid and lipoprotein concentrations were determined by standardized enzymatic methods. PON1-192 QQ (low activity), QR (moderate activity), and RR (high activity) phenotype groups were defined using serum SSPON1/ARE activity ratios. The R-carries (RC) phenotype group consisted of the QR and RR groups combined.ResultsAll lipid and lipoprotein concentrations were greater in the exercise group than in the control group. Regardless of phenotype, no significant differences were observed between the exercise and control groups in terms of serum PON1, SSPON1, or ARE activity associated with HDLs (p > 0.05), whereas PON1 activities in QQ-phenotyped women in the exercise group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.01), but not the RC group. A statistically significant interaction between PON1 phenotypes (QQ and RC groups) and exercise (exercise and control groups) on PON1 activity was found.ConclusionThese results showed that a regular aerobic exercise program can improve PON1 activity depending on PON1-192 phenotype, but not on lipid and lipoprotein levels, in middle-aged Turkish women.

The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of ACTN3 R577X gene polymorphism in soccer players and sedentary individuals, and to investigate the relationship of this distribution with performance tests. A total of 100 soccer players and 101 sedentary individuals were enrolled in the study. Standing long jump and countermovement jump (with arm swing, without arm swing and repeated) scores were recorded, using a jump meter. Maximum VO2 levels were measured using a treadmill-connected cardiopulmonary exercise device, Masterscreen CPX. ACTN3 R577X polymorphism was evaluated by real-time PCR. ACTN3 R577X genotype distribution was found to be similar in soccer players and controls (p>0.05). The only statistically significant finding was a shorter countermovement jump with arm swing scores in the RR-genotyped soccer players, compared with their RX genotyped counterparts (p<0.05). In the soccer player group, RX-genotyped subjects were observed to have lower respiratory threshold values compared with RR-genotyped subjects (p<0.05). No significant correlation was detected between this distribution and performance test results. ACTN3 R577X genotype distribution was found to have no effect on sprint and endurance characteristics in amateur soccer players. The ACTN3 R577X polymorphism may not be a specific enough genetic marker to determine athletic performance in soccer.

The main purpose of this research is to determine the relationship between angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) gene polymorphism and maximal oxygen consumption (maxVO2) in soccer players and sedentary subjects. To prove possible association of telomerase enzyme activity with maxVO2, was a secondary aim.A total of 104 healthy soccer players and 103 healthy sedentary individuals who are aged between 18-30 yrs, and have similar characteristics were included in the study. Participants’ medical histories were taken and physical examinations were performed. Regional fat measurement by skinfold calliper and body composition measurements by bioimpedance were made. MaxVO2 measurements were performed with a cardiopulmonary exercise testing device (Masterscreen CPX) in connexion to a treadmill. Blood samples were taken into EDTA tubes for ACE I/D gene polymorphism determination, which was performed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. In an attempt to relate maxVO2 with leucocyte telomere length, telomerase enzyme activity was also searched. Apart from descriptive statistical analysis, 2 x 3 factorial ANOVA analysis was performed to see the effect of both sports participation and gene polymorphism. Hardy-Weinberg analysis was made to determine gene distribution. For statistical significance, the p < 0.05 level was used.Soccer players’ body composition, body mass index (BMI), body fat ratio (BFR), and all skinfold thicknesses were lower than the controls’. Total (ml/min) and per body weight (ml/min/kg) maxVO2 and ventilatory threshold (VT) levels of the control group were found to be significantly lower than those of the soccer players. ACE I/D gene polymorphism distribution in all subjects was 21.7% for ACE I/I, 45.5% for ACE I/D and 32.8% for ACE D/D; I and D alleles amounting to 44.4% and 55.6%. Soccer players and controls had similar gene distribution. ACE I/D gene polymorphism and maxVO2 were not associated. However, average maxVO2 score of all individuals with ACE I/I polymorphism (52.1 ± 10.3 ml/min/kg) was found to be higher than those with I/D (50.5 ± 9.6 ml/min/kg) and D/D (50.9 ± 10.8 ml/min/kg) polymorphism, the difference failing statistical significance. In the present study, no effect of ACE I/D gene polymorphism on body weight, BMI, BFR and skinfold measurements -apart the subscapular- were determined. Leucocyte telomerase activity was not detectable in the blood samples.According to the present investigation, ACE I/D gene polymorphism is not associated with maxVO2 and body composition measurements in soccer players and sedentary subjects. No leucocyte telomerase activity was detected in the blood samples, failing to prove association of maxVO2 with telomere length.AcknowledgmentThe authors would like to express their gratitude for the support of Ege University Research Fund (BAP TIP2012)