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[Hematologic features of olympic volley-ball athletes]
J J Faintuch1, P A Lotufo, J Gilberto
1Serviço de Clínica Geral e Propedêutica, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo.
Revista Do Hospital Das Clinicas
|November 1, 1994
Summary
Highly trained volleyball athletes in Brazil exhibit borderline anemia, with lower hemoglobin and hematocrit than non-athletes. While overt anemia is rare, these athletes show adaptations that warrant attention.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Hematology
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Athletes often display lower hemoglobin concentrations than sedentary individuals.
- Sports anemia encompasses pseudodilutional anemia (a training adaptation) and true anemia (often due to iron deficiency or hemolysis).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of borderline anemia and related factors in highly trained volleyball athletes compared to a control group.
- To differentiate between pseudodilutional anemia and true anemia in this athletic population.
Main Methods:
- Utilized questionnaires, physical examinations, and laboratory tests.
- Compared 16 highly trained volleyball athletes with 23 age- and gender-matched healthy outpatients.
- Assessed hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit, bilirubin levels, and parasitic infections.
Main Results:
- All participants had Hb > 13 g/dl, but athletes showed lower Hb and hematocrit than controls.
- 25% of athletes had elevated total and indirect bilirubin.
- Intestinal parasitic infestation was found in 7 control patients versus only 1 athlete.
Conclusions:
- Overt anemia is uncommon in athletes in São Paulo, Brazil.
- Volleyball athletes in this study were in a borderline anemic state, characterized by lower Hb and hematocrit.
- Pseudodilutional anemia may contribute to the observed hematological differences in athletes.