Sickle Cell Trait in Ivory Coast Athletic Throw and Jump Champions, 1956-1995

Bilé, A.; Gallais, Daniel Le; Mercier, Joyce McDonough; Bogui, Pascal; Préfaut, C

doi:10.1055/s-2007-971907

Cited by 18 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 8 publications

(12 reference statements)

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“…This observation is difficult to explain, although it may be due to a small sample size effect. In contrast to the data on track and field athletes with HbAS reported in the literature (Le Gallais et al 1991;Bile et al 1998), the percentage of HL athletes with abnormal Hb competing in races both shorter and longer than 800 m and in throwing and jumping events was similar to that of the athletes with normal Hb. Additionally, a male athlete with HbS and without associated a-thalassemia was engaged in endurance race.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

The epidemiology of abnormal hemoglobins in Mediterranean high-level athletes

et al. 2009

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The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and nature of hemoglobin (Hb) defects in a Mediterranean high-level (HL) athlete population. Five hundred and ninety-four HL male and female athletes were recruited during the annual follow-up of the members of Tunisian national teams. Hematological data, Hb electrophoresis, and DNA analysis were assessed using conventional techniques. Sporting discipline, type of sport, and performance levels were assessed using a questionnaire. The results showed that 32 HL athletes had abnormal Hb (5.4%): beta-thalassemia (2.2%), alpha-thalassemia (0.5%), HbAS (1.5%), HbAC (0.5%), and rare Hb variants (0.7%). Of the 32 defect carriers, all but one (a alpha-thalassemia) were heterozygous. All the detected hemoglobinopathies but one (an Hb Hope) had already been reported in the country. The prevalence of Hb defect in the HL athletes was similar to that described in the general Tunisian population (P > 0.05). The percentage of Hb defect in the athletes was not dependent on gender, or performance level (P > 0.05). Within each type of sport the percentages of athletes with normal and abnormal Hb were similar (P > 0.05). The hematological data revealed the diversity of anemia, microcytosis, and hypochromia in thalassemic HL athletes. We concluded that HL athletes in Tunisia were a representative sample of the general Tunisian population regarding the prevalence and nature of benign abnormal Hb. The hematological data of the thalassemia carriers exhibited high variability and raised the question of genetic and sporting counseling, as well as biological follow-up for these carriers.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

The epidemiology of abnormal hemoglobins in Mediterranean high-level athletes

et al. 2009

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“…Laboratory studies indicated a normal exercise capacity in the presence of HbS [1,3,29,32,33], although some limitation in exercise performance during intensive and prolonged effort was noted, and associated alpha-thalassemia has been suggested to…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Interestingly, these two studies also revealed that the percentages of SCTs as title holders (27.3 %) and record holders (41.9 %) in throw and jump events were significantly higher than the prevalence of SCTs in the general Ivory Coast population (12.0 %). These authors [1] concluded that SCT may be a determinant factor for success in brief and explosive track and field events involving mainly anaerobic metabolism.…”

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confidence: 98%

“…SCT presents a diminished affinity for oxygen (O 2 ) [29] and is widely distributed among blacks [27], representing 7 -9 % of African-Americans and reaching 30 -40 % of some Central African populations [6]. Because the uncommon but severe injuries reported in SCT carriers (SCTs) during athletic activities [14,16] have been related to aging, training and the deconditioned state of the subjects [8,15 -17], initial investigations were oriented toward the aerobic exercise performance and metabolism of these subjects.Laboratory studies indicated a normal exercise capacity in the presence of HbS [1,3,29,32,33], although some limitation in exercise performance during intensive and prolonged effort was noted, and associated alpha-thalassemia has been suggested to …”

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confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, SCTs were found to have competitive performances similar to those of subjects with normal hemoglobin in sprint races (100 -400 m) [19] and in repetitive 6-s intensive bouts involving anaerobic and slight aerobic pathway participation [2]. In epidemiological studies on the sickle cell trait in Ivory Coast champions (1956 -1995), however, Le Gallais et al [19] and BilØ et al [1] demonstrated that SCT runners won significantly fewer titles than non-SCTs in long-distance races and that they won fewer titles over the course of their careers. Interestingly, these two studies also revealed that the percentages of SCTs as title holders (27.3 %) and record holders (41.9 %) in throw and jump events were significantly higher than the prevalence of SCTs in the general Ivory Coast population (12.0 %).…”

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Alactic Anaerobic Performance in Subjects with Sickle Cell Trait and Hemoglobin AA

Hue¹,

Julan²,

Blonc³

et al. 2002

Int J Sports Med

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The aim of the present study was to assess the performance of subjects with sickle cell trait (SCT) during brief and explosive exercise involving mainly anaerobic metabolism. One hundred and ninety-six black subjects underwent SCT screening, which revealed the presence of 16 subjects with SCT and 180 subjects with normal hemoglobin (HbAA). All subjects performed four tests: 1) a 100-m sprint, 2) a long-jump, 3) a Leger-Boucher shuttle test and 4) a jump-and-reach test. A control group (n = 18) selected from the 180 subjects with HbAA was matched according to the sex, age, weight and height of the SCT subjects (SCTs). The performances of the SCTs (n = 16) were compared with those of the control group. The performances were similar between the SCTs and control group for the sprint test, long-jump and the Leger-Boucher shuttle test. There was, however, a significant difference for the jump-and-reach test between the two groups: the SCTs (i. e., males plus females, and males and females considered separately) reached a significantly greater height (p < 0.05) than the matched subjects of the control group (63.7 +/- 3.6 vs. 58.6 +/- 3.1 cm, 72.3 +/- 3.9 vs. 67.1 +/- 2.4 cm and 52.7 +/- 3.2 vs. 45.3 +/- 2.0 cm for SCTs versus non-SCTs, for the group, the males and the females, respectively). The results of the present study suggest that the performance of brief and explosive exercise may be enhanced by HbS.

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