Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2010; 31(4): 225-230
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1243617
Physiology & Biochemistry

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Diurnal and Exercise-Related Variability of Haemoglobin and Reticulocytes in Athletes

Y. O. Schumacher1 , M. Wenning1 , N. Robinson2 , P.-E. Sottas2 , G. Ruecker3 , T. Pottgiesser1
  • 1Abteilung Sportmedizin, Medizinische Universitätsklinik Freiburg, Germany
  • 2Institut Universitaire de Médecine Légale, Laboratoire Suisse d’Analyse du Dopage, Lausanne, Switzerland
  • 3Institut für Medizinische Biometrie und Informatik (IMBI), Universität Freiburg, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision November 24, 2009

Publication Date:
10 February 2010 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Haemoglobin (Hb) and Reticulocytes (Ret) are measured as indirect markers of doping in athletes. We studied the diurnal variation, the impact of exercise, fluid intake and ambient temperature in athletes on these parameters. Hourly venous blood samples were obtained from 36 male athletes of different disciplines (endurance (END) and non-endurance (NON-END)) over 12 h during a typical training day. Seven inactive subjects served as controls (CON). Hb and Ret were determined. A mixed model procedure was used to analyse the data. At baseline, Hb was similar for all groups, END showed lower Ret than NON-END and CON. Exercise showed a significant impact on Hb (+0.46 g/dl, p<0.001), the effect disappeared ∼2 h after exercise. Hb decreased over the day by ∼0.55 g/dl (p<0.01). There was no relevant effect on Ret. Fluid intake and ambient temperature had no significant effect. Hb shows significant diurnal- and exercise related variations. In an anti-doping context, most of these variations are in favour of the athlete. Blood samples taken after exercise might therefore provide reliable results and thus be used for the longitudinal monitoring of athletes if a timeframe for the re-equilibration of vascular volumes is respected.

Key words

blood doping - athlete's biological passport - sports - circadian variation - plasma volume

References

  • 1 Banfi G. Reticulocytes in sports medicine.  Sports Med. 2008;  38 187-211
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Banfi G, Del Fabbro M. Behaviour of reticulocyte counts and immature reticulocyte fraction during a competitive season in elite athletes of four different sports.  Int J Lab Hematol. 2007;  29 127-131
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Banfi G, Dolci A. Preanalytical phase of sport biochemistry and haematology.  J Sports Med Phys Fit. 2003;  43 223-230
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Convertino VA. Blood volume: its adaptation to endurance training.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1991;  23 1338-1348
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Convertino VA, Brock PJ, Keil LC, Bernauer EM, Greenleaf JE. Exercise training-induced hypervolemia: role of plasma albumin, renin, and vasopressin.  J Appl Physiol. 1980;  48 665-669
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Costongs GM, Janson PC, Bas BM, Hermans J, Brombacher PJ, van Wersch JW. Short-term and long-term intra-individual variations and critical differences of haematological laboratory parameters.  J Clin Chem Clin Biochem. 1985;  23 69-76
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Dot D, Miro J, Fuentes-Arderiu X. Within-subject biological variation of hematological quantities and analytical goals.  Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1992;  116 825-826
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Felding P, Tryding N, Hyltoft PP, Horder M. Effects of posture on concentrations of blood constituents in healthy adults: practical application of blood specimen collection procedures recommended by the Scandinavian Committee on Reference Values.  Scand J Clin Lab Invest. 1980;  40 615-621
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Fellmann N. Hormonal and plasma volume alterations following endurance exercise.  A brief review. Sports Med. 1992;  13 37-49
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Harrison MH. Effects on thermal stress and exercise on blood volume in humans.  Physiol Rev. 1985;  65 149-209
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Harrison MH. Heat and exercise. Effects on blood volume.  Sports Med. 1986;  3 214-223
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. International Journal of Sports Medicine – Ethical Standards in Sport and Exercise Science Research.  Int J Sports Med. 2009;  30 701-702
    Google Scholar
  • 13 Jones AR, Twedt D, Swaim W, Gottfried E. Diurnal change of blood count analytes in normal subjects.  Am J Clin Pathol. 1996;  106 723-727
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Kargotich S, Goodman C, Keast D, Morton AR. The influence of exercise-induced plasma volume changes on the interpretation of biochemical parameters used for monitoring exercise, training and sport.  Sports Med. 1998;  26 101-117
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Kay B, O'Brien BJ, Gill ND. Exercise-induced hypervolemia may not be consequential to dehydration during exercise.  J Sports Sci Med. 2004;  3 50-55
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Kristal-Boneh E, Froom P, Harari G, Shapiro Y, Green MS. Seasonal changes in red blood cell parameters.  Br J Haematol. 1993;  85 603-607
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Kuipers H, Brouwer T, Dubravcic-Simunjak S, Moran J, Mitchel D, Shobe J, Sakai H, Stray-Gundersen J, Vanhoutvin S. Hemoglobin and hematocrit values after saline infusion and tourniquet.  Int J Sports Med. 2005;  26 405-408
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Leppanen E, Dugue B. When to collect blood specimens: midmorning vs. fasting samples.  Clin Chem. 1998;  44 2537-2542
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Leppanen EA, Grasbeck R. Experimental basis of standardized specimen collection: effect of posture on blood picture.  Eur J Haematol. 1988;  40 222-226
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Malcovati L, Pascutto C, Cazzola M. Hematologic passport for athletes competing in endurance sports: a feasibility study.  Haematologica. 2005;  88 570-581
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Mallorqui J, Segura J, de Bolos C, Gutierrez-Gallego R, Pascual JA. Recombinant erythropoietin found in seized blood bags from sportsmen.  Haematologica. 2008;  93 313-314
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Morkeberg J, Belhage B, Ashenden M, Borno A, Sharpe K, Dziegiel MH, Damsgaard R. Screening for autologous blood transfusions.  Int J Sports Med. 2009;  30 285-292
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Parisotto R, Gore CJ, Emslie KR, Ashenden MJ, Brugnara C, Howe C, Martin DT, Trout GJ, Hahn AG. A novel method utilising markers of altered erythropoiesis for the detection of recombinant human erythropoietin abuse in athletes.  Haematologica. 2000;  85 564-572
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Pocock SJ, Ashby D, Shaper AG, Walker M, Broughton PM. Diurnal variations in serum biochemical and haematological measurements.  J Clin Pathol. 1989;  42 172-179
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Robinson N, Sottas PE, Mangin P, Saugy M. Bayesian detection of abnormal hematological values to introduce a no-start rule for heterogeneous populations of athletes.  Haematologica. 2007;  92 1143-1144
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Rocker L, Feddersen HM, Hoffmeister H, Junge B. Seasonal variation of blood components important for diagnosis.  Klin Wochenschrift. 1980;  58 769-778
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Sawka MN, Convertino VA, Eichner ER, Schnieder SM, Young AJ. Blood volume: importance and adaptations to exercise training, environmental stresses, and trauma/sickness.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;  32 332-348
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Schumacher YO, Schmid A, Grathwohl D, Bultermann D, Berg A. Hematological indices and iron status in athletes of various sports and performances.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002;  34 869-875
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Shapiro Y, Hubbard RW, Kimbrough CM, Pandolf KB. Physiological and hematologic responses to summer and winter dry-heat acclimation.  J Appl Physiol;. 1981;  50 792-798
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Sharpe K, Ashenden MJ, Schumacher YO. A third generation approach to detect erythropoietin abuse in athletes.  Haematologica. 2006;  91 356-363
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Sottas PE, Robinson N, Taroni F, Kamber M, Mengin P. Statistical classification of abnormal blood profiles in athletes.  Int J Biostat. 2006;  2 1011
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Statland BE, Winkel P, Harris SC, Burdsall MJ, Saunders AM. Evaluation of biologic sources of variation of leukocyte counts and other hematologic quantities using very precise automated analyzers.  Am J Clin Pathol. 1978;  69 48-54
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Walsh D (Ed) From Lance to Landis.. Inside the American Doping Controversy in the Tour de France. New York: Random House Publishing Group; 2007
    Google Scholar

Correspondence

Priv. Doz. Dr. Yorck Olaf Schumacher

Abtlg. Sportmedizin

Medizinische Universitätsklinik Freiburg

Hugstetter Straße 55

79106 Freiburg

Germany

Phone: +49/761/270 74 73

Fax: +49/761/270 74 70

Email: olaf@msm1.ukl.uni-freiburg.de

      >