<p>Effect of <em>HFE</em> Gene Mutation on Changes in Iron Metabolism Induced by Nordic Walking in Elderly Women</p>

Abstract

Background: Excess iron accumulation in human tissue is associated with the diet, lack of exercise, or genetic factors. Iron accumulation increases the risk of acute myocardial infarction, diabetes, and cancer. On the other hand, exercise reduces the risk of several morbidities and influences iron metabolism. Here, we evaluated changes in iron metabolism induced by exercise in elderly women bearing the H63A HFE mutation. Purpose: To identify a factor that modulates the effect of exercise on iron metabolism. We investigated whether regular exercise induces similar changes in iron metabolism, mainly manifested by lowered body iron stores, in individuals bearing the wild-type (WT) and mutated HFE gene. Subjects and Methods: Seventy-six women (average age 69.2±5.6 years old) were enrolled in the study. Thirty-nine women participated in 12 weeks of Nordic walking (NW) training; the remaining participants were assigned to the control group. Based on the H63A HFE mutation status, the NW group was divided into women bearing the mutation (HET, n=12) and women with the WT gene (WT, n=27). Results:The training resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the serum iron (p=0.03) and ferritin levels (p=0.001); hepcidin levels remained unchanged. No differences in these parameters were noted between the HET and WT groups. Conclusion: These observations suggest that a reduction in body iron stores might constitute an important aspect of the health-promoting effect of exercise, regardless of the genetic background.

Menopause Delays the Typical Recovery of Pre-Exercise Hepcidin Levels after High-Intensity Interval Running Exercise in Endurance-Trained Women

“…Therefore, although the hepcidin response to exercise seems to be consistent across different populations, exercise protocols, and modalities [22], it would be useful to confirm this relationship between studies with further research. Furthermore, it should be noted that the decrease in serum ferritin observed by Kortas et al [35] was accompanied by a decrease in fasting glucose but not in hepcidin. Given that fasting glucose levels and serum ferritin show a positive correlation [19,35] and that exercise is known to improve insulin resistance [63], there exists the possibility that exercise-induced improvements in the metabolic profile also contribute to a reduction in ferritin stores.…”

“…Furthermore, it should be noted that the decrease in serum ferritin observed by Kortas et al [ 35 ] was accompanied by a decrease in fasting glucose but not in hepcidin. Given that fasting glucose levels and serum ferritin show a positive correlation [ 19 , 35 ] and that exercise is known to improve insulin resistance [ 63 ], there exists the possibility that exercise-induced improvements in the metabolic profile also contribute to a reduction in ferritin stores. The same is true for the inflammatory profile, as exercise also seems to improve this condition [ 64 ].…”

“…On the one hand, as hepcidin seems to remain elevated from 3 to 24 h, high-intensity interval running exercise may be an interesting tool to reduce iron absorption for almost an entire day in postmenopausal women who present undesired iron accumulation. If repeated over time, this circumstance, along with the ability of exercise to increase iron loses and iron needs for erythropoiesis [ 61 , 62 ], may help reduce ferritin or at least prevent its buildup, as supported by Kortas et al findings in postmenopausal women after Nordic Walking programs [ 35 , 36 , 37 ]. However, our exercise protocol was more intense than the Nordic Walking sessions used by the studies of Kostas et al, while the latter were of greater volume.…”

“…Although exercise and a physically active lifestyle have been proposed to ameliorate or counteract many negative effects of menopause on health [ 34 ], the role of exercise in postmenopausal women as a potential tool for dealing with iron accumulation has not been studied in depth. Few studies have investigated this issue, noting a reduction in ferritin stores after Nordic Walking programs in a cohort of postmenopausal elderly women [ 35 , 36 , 37 ]. However, no differences were found in hepcidin levels before and after the interventions [ 35 , 36 ].…”

“…Few studies have investigated this issue, noting a reduction in ferritin stores after Nordic Walking programs in a cohort of postmenopausal elderly women [ 35 , 36 , 37 ]. However, no differences were found in hepcidin levels before and after the interventions [ 35 , 36 ]. This observation suggests that one of the mechanisms for the reduction in ferritin stores may be the aforementioned transient increments in serum hepcidin after exercise, which may reduce dietary iron absorption in training days [ 22 , 38 ].…”