Resistance training affects iron status in older men and women

Objective: To examine the effects of resistance training on hematological and selected indices of iron status in 17 women aged 54-71 years and 18 men aged 56-69 years. Design: Tests and evaluations were done before and after all subjects participated in a resistance training program twice weekly for 12 weeks. Results: The resistance training was effective as evidenced by increases in skeletal muscle strength of 20 +/-9% and 23 +/- 13% for the men and women, respectively. Hematological parameters and serum iron concentrations were within normal clinical ranges and were unchanged by resistance training for both the men and the women. Total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and transferrin saturation were also unaffected by resistance training in the women but were significantly affected in the men. The men showed a decreased TIBC (P < .0001) and an increased transferrin saturation (p =.050). Serum ferritin concentrations decreased significantly in the women (p =.041) but were unchanged in the men. Transferrin receptor concentrations were unaffected by resistance training in the women but increased significantly in the men (p =.030). Conclusions: With resistance training, iron status of older men and women changes in a sex specific way.