The Effects of Injury and Illness on Haemoglobin Mass

• Published in: International journal of sports medicine 2013-09, Vol.34 (9), p.763-769
• Main Authors: Gough, C. E., Sharpe, K., Garvican, L. A., Anson, J. M., Saunders, P. U., Gore, C. J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Altitude; Athletes; Athletic Injuries - physiopathology; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hemoglobins - metabolism; Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology; Humans; Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine; Iron - administration & dosage; Linear Models; Male; Medical sciences; Physical Education and Training - methods; Physiology & Biochemistry; Sex Factors; Surgical Procedures, Operative - methods; Time Factors; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0172-4622; 1439-3964
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1333692

Abstract This study sought to quantify the effects of reduced training, surgery and changes in body mass on haemoglobin mass (Hb mass ) in athletes. Hb mass of 15 athletes (6 males, 9 females) was measured 9±6 (mean±SD) times over 162±198 days, during reduced training following injury or illness. Additionally, body mass (n=15 athletes) and episodes of altitude training (n=2), iron supplementation (n=5), or surgery (n=3) were documented. Training was recorded and compared with pre-injury levels. Analysis used linear mixed models for ln(Hb mass ), with Sex, Altitude, Surgery, Iron, Training and log(Body Mass) as fixed effects, and Athlete as a fixed and random effect. Reduced training and surgery led to 2.3% (p=0.02) and 2.7% (p=0.04) decreases in Hb mass , respectively. Altitude and iron increased Hb mass by 2.4% (p=0.03) and 4.2% (p=0.05), respectively. The effect of changes in body mass on Hb mass was not statistically significant (p=0.435).The estimates for the effects of surgery and altitude on Hb mass should be confirmed by future research using a larger sample of athletes. These estimates could be used to inform the judgements of experts examining athlete biological passports, improving their interpretation of Hb mass perturbations, which athletes claim are related to injury, thereby protecting innocent athletes from unfair sanctioning.