Live high, train low – influence on resting and post‐exercise hepcidin levels

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports Vol. 27; no. 7; pp. 704 - 713
• Main Authors: Govus, A. D., Peeling, P., Abbiss, C. R., Lawler, N. G., Swinkels, D. W., Laarakkers, C. M., Thompson, K. G., Peiffer, J. J., Gore, C. J., Garvican‐Lewis, L. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Denmark 01-07-2017
• Subjects: Adult; Altitude; altitude training; Exercise - physiology; Female; Hemoglobins - analysis; Hepcidins - blood; Humans; hypoxia; Hypoxia - blood; iron deficiency; Iron metabolism; Male; Oxygen Consumption; Rest - physiology; Running - physiology; Young Adult; hypoxia; Iron metabolism; iron deficiency; altitude training
• ISSN: 0905-7188; 1600-0838
• DOI: 10.1111/sms.12685

The post‐exercise hepcidin response during prolonged (>2 weeks) hypoxic exposure is not well understood. We compared plasma hepcidin levels 3 h after exercise [6 × 1000 m at 90% of maximal aerobic running velocity (vVO2max)] performed in normoxia and normobaric hypoxia (3000 m simulate altitude) 1 week before, and during 14 days of normobaric hypoxia [196.2 ± 25.6 h (median: 200.8 h; range: 154.3–234.8 h) at 3000 m simulated altitude] in 10 well‐trained distance runners (six males, four females). Venous blood was also analyzed for hepcidin after 2 days of normobaric hypoxia. Hemoglobin mass (Hbmass) was measured via CO rebreathing 1 week before and after 14 days of hypoxia. Hepcidin was suppressed after 2 (Cohen's d = −2.3, 95% confidence interval: [−2.9, −1.6]) and 14 days of normobaric hypoxia (d = −1.6 [−2.6, −0.6]). Hepcidin increased from baseline, 3 h post‐exercise in normoxia (d = 0.8 [0.2, 1.3]) and hypoxia (d = 0.6 [0.3, 1.0]), both before and after exposure (normoxia: d = 0.7 [0.3, 1.2]; hypoxia: d = 1.3 [0.4, 2.3]). In conclusion, 2 weeks of normobaric hypoxia suppressed resting hepcidin levels, but did not alter the post‐exercise response in either normoxia or hypoxia, compared with the pre‐exposure response.