Clinical Interventions in Aging (May 2020)
Effect of HFE Gene Mutation on Changes in Iron Metabolism Induced by Nordic Walking in Elderly Women
Abstract
Jakub Kortas,1 Ewa Ziemann,2 Jedrzej Antosiewicz3 1Department of Sport, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdansk, Poland; 2Department of Athletics, Strength and Conditioning, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznan, Poland; 3Department of Bioenergetics and Physiology of Exercise, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, PolandCorrespondence: Jakub KortasDepartment of Sport, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Kazimierza Górskiego 1, Gdansk 80-336, PolandEmail [email protected] AntosiewiczDepartment of Bioenergetics and Physiology of Exercise, Medical University of Gdansk, Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie 3a, Gdansk 80-210, PolandEmail [email protected]: Excess iron accumulation in human tissue is associated with the diet, lack of exercise, or genetic factors. Iron accumulation increases the risk of acute myocardial infarction, diabetes, and cancer. On the other hand, exercise reduces the risk of several morbidities and influences iron metabolism. Here, we evaluated changes in iron metabolism induced by exercise in elderly women bearing the H63A HFE mutation.Purpose: To identify a factor that modulates the effect of exercise on iron metabolism. We investigated whether regular exercise induces similar changes in iron metabolism, mainly manifested by lowered body iron stores, in individuals bearing the wild-type (WT) and mutated HFE gene.Subjects and Methods: Seventy-six women (average age 69.2± 5.6 years old) were enrolled in the study. Thirty-nine women participated in 12 weeks of Nordic walking (NW) training; the remaining participants were assigned to the control group. Based on the H63A HFE mutation status, the NW group was divided into women bearing the mutation (HET, n=12) and women with the WT gene (WT, n=27).Results: The training resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the serum iron (p=0.03) and ferritin levels (p=0.001); hepcidin levels remained unchanged. No differences in these parameters were noted between the HET and WT groups.Conclusion: These observations suggest that a reduction in body iron stores might constitute an important aspect of the health-promoting effect of exercise, regardless of the genetic background.Keywords: physical activity, ferritin, inflammation, glucose
