Effects of recreational scuba diving on erythropoiesis–“normobaric oxygen paradox” or “plasma volume regulation” as a trigger for erythropoietin?

• Published in: European journal of applied physiology 2020-07, Vol.120 (7), p.1689-1697
• Main Authors: Perović, Antonija, Žarak, Marko, Njire Bratičević, Marina, Dumić, Jerka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Diving; Diving - physiology; Erythrocyte Count - methods; Erythrocytes; Erythropoiesis; Erythropoiesis - physiology; Erythropoietin; Erythropoietin - blood; Erythropoietin - metabolism; Ferritin; Ferritins - blood; Hematocrit; Hemoglobin; Hemoglobins - metabolism; Human Physiology; Humans; Hyperoxia; Iron; Iron - blood; Iron - metabolism; Lipid peroxidation; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Original Article; Plasma Volume - physiology; Sports Medicine; Statistical analysis
• ISSN: 1439-6319; 1439-6327
• DOI: 10.1007/s00421-020-04395-5

Purpose Previous studies have shown an increase in erythrocyte lipid peroxidation and a decrease in red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit after only one recreational scuba diving session. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of repetitive scuba diving on RBC parameters and erythropoiesis. Methods Divers ( N  = 14) conducted one dive per week over 5 weeks at a depth of 20–30 m for 30 min. For measuring RBC parameters, erythropoietin, iron, and ferritin, blood samples were collected before and after the first, third, and fifth dive. Results Between pre- and post-dive results, a statistically significant increase in RBC count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), RBC distribution width (RDW), iron, and ferritin was observed. Analysis of the results between the first, third, and fifth dive showed that the erythropoietin increase at the third (pre-dive p  = 0.009; post-dive p  = 0.004) and fifth dive (pre-dive p