Issn Print: 0195-9131
Publication Date: 1996/05/01
IRON STATUS AND IMMUNE FUNCTION IN FEMALE COLLEGIATE SWIMMERS 552
W. A. Braun; M. G. Flynn; D. L. Carl; K. K. Carroll; T. Brickman; C. P. Lambert
Excerpt
Iron deficiency is common in athletes, with this deficiency being most prevalent in female athletes. Iron deficiency has been reported to have adverse effects on the immune system and has been associated with reductions in natural killer cell activity. This preliminary investigation was conducted to determine if a similar relationship exists between iron status and immune function in highly conditioned, female athletes. Ten, collegiate, female swimmers (SWM) and nine inactive, female controls were subjects in this study. Resting blood samples were obtained and analyzed for serum iron, ferritin and natural cell-mediated cytoxicity (NK). No significant relationship was found between iron and NK (r =.55, p = 0.09), or between ferritin and NK (r =.33, p= 0.35) for SWM. ANOVA revealed significantly higher (p < 0.05) NK activity(51.63% ± 15.79) in SWM than CON (30.34% ± 13.67). NK cell numbers (CD3-CD16+CD56+) were 297 * 106 cellsl-1 ± 100.0 (SWM) and 220 * 106 cellsl-1 ± 97.34 (CON). Serum ferritin levels were not significantly different between SWM (20.38± 8.62 ng ml-1) and CON (16.79 ± 10.53 ng ml-1), nor were iron values different (16.54 ± 2.17 umol·l-1 SWM, 11.92 ±2.61 umol·l-1 CON). The results of this study indicate that there was not a significant relationship between iron status and immune function as measured by NK activity in highly conditioned, female athletes. In conclusion, exercise training may affect NK activity, however, the influence of iron status on immune function requires further evaluation.
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