Studia Kinanthropologica

Studia Kinanthropologica 2019, 20(2):137-147

Long-term fluctuation of the red blood count in an elite female runner

P. Červinka

Univerzita Karlova v Praze, FTVS, Katedra atletiky

Case study elite female endurance runner is focused on changes in red blood count in long-term training load. In the course of five years, 29 blood samples were taken from the cubical vein in which individual components of the red blood cell were monitored. All samples were processing in a specialized haematology laboratory. All blood components were statistically analysed. Proband has diagnostic sideropenic anaemia and iron was supplemented with approximately 100 mg of Fe2+ per day throughout the monitoring period. In addition to serum iron, none of the components moved beyond the reference values. A slight upward trend was observed in serum iron, ferritin, haemoglobin and mean haemoglobin concentration in the erythrocyte in the observed period, a slight decrease in erythrocyte count, mean red blood cell count and haematocrit. We have not confirmed elite runners running macrocytosis, which reports Eichner (2001), even higher levels of ferritin in the female runners (Fallon, 2004). Seasonal analysis showed a higher seasonality for serum iron, lower for haemoglobin. The highest value is achieved in the prepare-winter period, when does an aerobic workout.

Keywords: red blood count; elite endurance female runner; training load

Published: September 30, 2019  Show citation