Live high, train low - influence on resting and post-exercise hepcidin levels.

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Altitude Training
• Iron Metabolism

Background:

• The impact of prolonged hypoxic exposure on post-exercise hepcidin response is not well-defined.
• Hepcidin plays a crucial role in iron regulation, influencing iron availability for red blood cell production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of 14 days of normobaric hypoxia on resting and post-exercise hepcidin levels in well-trained runners.
• To compare exercise-induced hepcidin responses in normoxia and hypoxia before and after a period of hypoxic exposure.

Main Methods:

• 10 well-trained distance runners completed high-intensity exercise protocols in normoxia and normobaric hypoxia (3000m simulated altitude).
• Plasma hepcidin concentrations were measured 3 hours post-exercise and after 2 and 14 days of hypoxic exposure.
• Hemoglobin mass was assessed before and after the 14-day hypoxic period.

Main Results:

• Two weeks of normobaric hypoxia significantly suppressed resting hepcidin levels.
• The post-exercise hepcidin increase was observed in both normoxia and hypoxia, and this response was not altered by the hypoxic exposure.
• No significant changes in hemoglobin mass were reported after the 14-day hypoxic exposure.

Conclusions:

• Normobaric hypoxia for 2 weeks suppresses resting hepcidin.
• The acute exercise-induced hepcidin response is maintained during and after prolonged hypoxic exposure.
• These findings suggest that the body adapts to maintain iron homeostasis during exercise under hypoxic conditions.