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Published on: July 7, 2015
Hepcidin as a potential biomarker for blood doping
Nicolas Leuenberger1, Emanuele Bulla1, Olivier Salamin1
1Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne and Geneva, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
Elite athletes show suppressed hepcidin during intense training. Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) administration reduced hepcidin, enhancing detection sensitivity for doping in the Athlete Biological Passport.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Endocrinology
- Iron Metabolism
Background:
- Hepcidin regulates iron metabolism and its concentration decreases with increased erythropoiesis.
- Elite athletes experience physiological changes impacting iron and erythropoiesis markers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between hepcidin and erythropoiesis/iron metabolism markers in elite athletes.
- To assess the effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) delta on hepcidin levels and its potential for doping detection.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples from 109 elite athletes were analyzed for hepcidin, hemoglobin, erythropoietin (EPO), ferritin, erythroferrone (ERFE), and iron.
- A separate study administered rhEPO delta to healthy males, monitoring hepcidin, reticulocyte percentage (Ret%), and ferritin.
Main Results:
- A positive correlation was found between hepcidin and ferritin, iron, and hemoglobin in athletes.
- Hepcidin showed an inverse correlation with erythroferrone (ERFE).
- rhEPO delta administration led to reduced hepcidin levels.
Conclusions:
- Hepcidin levels correlate with iron status and hemoglobin in elite athletes.
- Monitoring hepcidin may improve the Athlete Biological Passport's sensitivity for detecting rhEPO doping.
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