Table 5 Changes of haematological variables related to various forms of chronic training

Endurance training

Spodaryk [38]

Various sports (n = 39)

Haematological and iron-related parameters were measured at rest in 39 male athletes from the Polish team who participated in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The athletes were divided into two groups: endurance-trained subjects (EN: cyclists, canoeists and rowers) and strength-trained subjects (ST: wrestlers and judoka)

Lower (EN)

Higher (EN)

–

–

–

Bejder et al. [39]

Cyclists (n = 11)

Eleven high-level competitive cyclists were investigated for 3 weeks. After initial measurements in week 1 (T1), training load was increased ~ 250% in week 2 (T2) followed by a reversion to the baseline training load in week 3 (T3). PV and haematological variables were determined frequently during all weeks

↓ − 6% (T2)

↑ + 15% (T2)

↓ − 16% (T2)

↓ − 5% (T2)

↑ + 10% (T2)

Green et al. [40]

Recreational athletes (n = 8)

Eight healthy, active but untrained males volunteered for the training study. The training program involved 8 weeks of cycle exercise, with each training session lasting for 2 h and with the intensity initially set at 62% of each subject’s VO_2max. Training was performed on a 3-l-3 cycle, with exercise conducted for 3 consecutive days followed by 1 d of inactivity and another 3 consecutive days of exercise

↓ − 4% (4 weeks)

= (NS)

–

↓ − 5% (4 weeks)

↑ + 14% (4 weeks)

Montero et al. [41]

Untrained athletes (n = 9)

Nine healthy, untrained volunteers underwent supervised endurance training consisting of 3–4 × 60 min cycle ergometry sessions per week for 8 weeks. Haematological markers were determined before and at weeks + 2 (T1), + 4 (T2) and + 8 (T3) of training

↓ − 8% (T1)

= (NS)

–

↓ − 7% (T1)

↑ + 16% (T1)

Apnea training

Revelli et al. [42]

Divers (n = 6)

Six scuba divers were tested before, during and after a 14-d Guinness saturation dive (8–10 m). During the dive, athletes breathed air at 1.8–2 ATA under the control of a team of physicians. Serum parameters were measured before (T0), during (T1, T2) and after the dive (T3, T4)

= (NS)

↓ − 44% (T3)

–

↓ − 6% (T2)

–