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Hepcidin response to three consecutive days of endurance training in hypoxia

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of 3 consecutive days of endurance training in hypoxia on hepcidin responses.

Method

Nine active healthy males completed two trials, consisting of 3 consecutive days of endurance training in either hypoxia [fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2): 14.5%) or normoxia (FiO2: 20.9%). On days 1–3, participants performed one 90 min session of endurance training per day, consisting of high-intensity endurance interval exercise [10 × 4 min of pedaling at 80% of maximal oxygen uptake (\({\dot{\text{V}}}\)O2max) with 2 min of active rest at 30% of \({\dot{\text{V}}}\)O2max] followed by 30 min of continuous exercise at 60% of \({\dot{\text{V}}}\)O2max. Venous blood samples were collected prior to exercise each day during the experimental period (days 1–4) to determine serum hepcidin, iron, ferritin, haptoglobin, and ketone body concentrations.

Result

Serum iron (p < 0.0001), ferritin (p = 0.005) and ketone body (p < 0.0001) concentrations increased significantly in both trials on days 2–4 compared with day 1, with no significant differences between trials. No significant changes in serum haptoglobin concentrations were observed throughout the experimental period in either trial. Serum hepcidin concentrations also increased significantly on days 2–4 compared with day 1 in both trials (p = 0.004), with no significant differences observed between trials.

Conclusion

3 consecutive days of endurance training in hypoxia did not affect hepcidin concentrations compared with endurance training in normoxia.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

CHO:

Carbohydrate

EPO:

Erythropoietin

FiO2 :

Fraction of inspired oxygen

HR:

Heart rate

hsCRP:

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein

HYP:

Endurance training in hypoxia trial

IL-6:

Interleukin-6

LEA:

Low energy availability

NOR:

Endurance training in normoxic trial

RPE:

Rate of perceived exertion

RPE-L:

Rating of leg strain

RPE-R:

Rating of respiratory strain

SD:

Standard deviations

SpO2 :

Percutaneous oxygen saturation

TIBC:

Total iron binding capacity

UIBC:

Unsaturated iron binding capacity

\({\dot{\text{V}}}\)O2max :

Maximal oxygen uptake

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Acknowledgements

We would like to appreciate all participants who completed experimental trials. We also thank the laboratory members for the grateful technical support.

Funding

This study was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center for Urban Health and Sports, Osaka City University, Osaka, Osaka, Japan

    Daichi Sumi

  2. Research Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Daichi Sumi

  3. Research Organization of Science and Technology, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Shiga, Japan

    Daichi Sumi

  4. Graduate School of Sports and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Shiga, Japan

    Nanako Hayashi, Keiichi Yamaguchi & Kazushige Goto

  5. School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand

    Claire E. Badenhorst

Authors
  1. Daichi Sumi
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  2. Nanako Hayashi
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  3. Keiichi Yamaguchi
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  4. Claire E. Badenhorst
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  5. Kazushige Goto
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Contributions

DS contributed to the study design, data collection, analysis, and manuscript writing. NH contributed to the data collection, analysis. KY contributed to the study design and data collection. CB contributed data interpretation and manuscript preparation. KG contributed to the study design, data collection, analysis, and manuscript writing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kazushige Goto.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Communicated by Michael Lindinger.

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Sumi, D., Hayashi, N., Yamaguchi, K. et al. Hepcidin response to three consecutive days of endurance training in hypoxia. Eur J Appl Physiol 121, 1197–1205 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04599-3

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