Serum haptoglobin and ferritin during a competitive running and swimming season

The purpose of the study was to examine ferritin, haptoglobin, and red cell indices during a competitive running and swimming season. Male runners (N = 8) and swimmers (N = 5) were tested four times during their respective seasons. The runners were tested before the start of organized practice (RT1), after 3 wk of increased training (RT2), 3 wk prior to the conference championship (pre-taper, RT3), and 3 d after the conference championship (post-taper, RT4). The swimmers were tested after the first 9 wk of training (ST1), after completing 2 wk of hard training (ST2), after an additional 6 wk of training (pre-taper, ST3), and 1 wk following the conference championship (post-taper, ST4). For the runners, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cell number were lower (p < 0.05) at RT2 and were not accompanied by significant changes in other red cell indices or haptoglobin. Serum ferritin in the runners was lower at RT3 and RT4 compared to RT1 despite an adequate dietary iron intake. Hemoglobin and mean cell hemoglobin concentration were lower and mean cell volume was higher in the swimmers at ST3 and ST4. No significant changes were observed in other red cell indices for swimmers; however, serum haptoglobin tended (p = 0.07) to be reduced at ST2. In conclusion, collegiate male runners and swimmers do not demonstrate clinical hypoferritinemia, hypohaptoglobinemia, or alterations in red cell indices suggestive of the early stage of anemia with or without iron deficiency during their respective season.