Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015 Oct;34(4):460-466.
doi: 10.2478/jomb-2014-0057. Epub 2015 Sep 19.

Hematological and Biochemical Parameters in Elite Soccer Players During A Competitive Half Season

Marija Anđelković  1 , Ivana Baralić  2 , Brižita Đorđević  3 , Jelena Kotur Stevuljević  4 , Nenad Radivojević  5 , Nenad Dikić  5 , Sanja Radojević Škodrić  6 , Mirjana Stojković  7
Affiliations

Hematological and Biochemical Parameters in Elite Soccer Players During A Competitive Half Season

Marija Anđelković et al. J Med Biochem. 2015 Oct.

Abstract
in English, Serbian

Background: The purpose of the present study was to report and discuss the hematological and biochemical behavior of elite soccer players, in order to get more insight in the physiological characteristics of these sportsmen and to provide trainers and sports doctors with useful indicators.

Methods: Nineteen male soccer players volunteered to participate in this study. We followed the young elite soccer players during a competitive half season. Venous blood samples were collected between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. after an overnight fast (10 h) at baseline, after 45 and 90 days and hematological and biochemical parameters were measured.

Results: Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were significantly reduced over the observational period (p<0.05), but erythrocyte count and iron levels remained unchanged. Bilirubin and ferritin levels significantly increased in response to regular soccer training (p<0.05). We observed a significant decrease in muscle enzyme plasma activity during the 90 days study period. ANOVA analysis revealed a significant increase in the leukocyte and neutrophil counts (p<0.05), in parallel with a significant decrease in the lymphocyte count (p<0.05) after the observational period of 90 days.

Conclusions: Elite soccer players are characterized by significant changes in biochemical and hematological parameters over the half season, which are linked to training workload, as well as adaptation induced by the soccer training. Although the values of the measured parameters fell within the reference range, regular monitoring of the biochemical and hematological parameters is fundamental for the identification of a healthy status and related optimal performances by sport doctors and trainers and selection of a correct workload by trainers.

Uvod: Cilj ove studije je bio da se odrede i analiziraju hematološki i biohemijski parametri kod elitnih fudbalera, kako bi se dobio bolji uvid u fiziološke karakteristike ovih sportista i pružile korisne informacije trenerima i doktorima sportske medicine.

Metode: Devetnaest fudbalera je dobrovoljno učestvovalo u ovoj studiji. Mlade elitne fudbalere smo pratili tokom druge polovine sezone. Uzorci venske krvi su sakupljeni natašte, između 9.00 i 10.00 časova, na početku studije i nakon 45 i 90 dana redovnih treninga, i određeni su osnovni biohemijski i hematološki parametri.

Rezultati: Nivo hemoglobina i hematokrit se značajno smanjuju u toku posmatranog perioda (p<0,05), dok su broj eritrocita i koncentracija serumskog gvožđa ostali nepromenjeni. Nivo bilirubina i feritina se značajno povećava kao posledica redovnih treninga (p<0,05). Zapazili smo značajno smanjenje nivoa mišićnih enzima u serumu tokom 90 dana. ANOVA je otkrila značajno povećanje broja leukocita i neutrofila (p<0,05), kao i značajno smanjenje broja limfocita (p<0,05) posle 90 dana redovnih treninga.

Zaključak: Elitni mladi fudbaleri pokazuju značajne promene u vrednostima biohemijskih i hematoloških parametara tokom druge polovine sezone, koje su posledica treninga, ali i adaptacije na fizičku aktivnost. Iako su vrednosti ovih parametara bile u granicama referentnih vrednosti, praćenje biohemijskih i hematoloških parametara je osnova za procenu zdravstvenog statusa sportista i optimalnih sportskih performansi, ali i korisno sredstvo za određivanje optimalnog intenziteta i učestalosti treninga.

Keywords: biochemistry; hematology; soccer.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Reilly T, Ekblom B. The use of recovery methods post-exercise. J Sports Sci. 2005;6:619–27. - PubMed
    1. Dill DB, Costill DL. Calculation of percentage changes in volumes of blood, plasma, and red cells in dehydration. J Appl Physiol. 1974;37:247–8. - PubMed
    1. Candau R, Busso T, Lacour JR. Effects of training on iron status in cross-country skiers. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1992;64:497–502. - PubMed
    1. Banfi G, Dolci A, Freschi M, Verdini C. Immature reticulocyte fraction (IRF) monitored in elite athletes during a whole season. Clin Lab Haematol. 2005;27:213–4. - PubMed
    1. Banfi G, del Fabbro M, Mauri C, Corsi MM, Melegati G. Haematological parameters in elite rugby players during a competitive season. Clin Lab Haematol. 2006a;28:183–8. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources