Iron status markers are only transiently affected by a football game

We examined the temporal variation of iron’s status markers during a 60 h period following a football game. Thirty-four
male football players were randomly assigned to a control group (CG, N = 14, participated only in measurements and
training) or an experimental group (EG, N = 20, took part in a football game one week after the completion of the
competitive season). All participants trained regularly for two consecutive days after the game. Training and game load
was monitored with high time-resolution global positioning system (GPS) devices. Blood samples were collected and
muscle damage markers and repeated sprint ability (RSA) were assessed pre-game and at 2 h, 12 h 36 h and 60 h postgame. No changes were noted in CG. Iron concentration decreased (P < 0.05) 2 h post-game and normalised thereafter
whereas total iron binding capacity increased (P < 0.05) 12–60 h of recovery (P < 0.05). Erythrocytes, haemoglobin
(HGB) concentration, plasma volume, haematocrit, mean cell volume, mean cell HGB, mean cell HGB concentration,
red cell width-SD, red cell width-CV, ferritin concentration and transferrin saturation remained unaltered during the
intervention period. Creatine kinase activity and muscle soreness increased (P < 0.05) throughout recovery in EG. RSA
declined (P < 0.05) until 36 h of recovery and normalised thereafter. Our data demonstrate that iron status markers are
only transiently affected by a football game.