Resistance training affects iron status in older men and women

Objective: To examine the effects of resistance training on hematological a nd selected indices of iron status in 17 women aged 54-71 years and 18 men aged 56-69 years. Design: Tests and evaluations were done before and after all subjects participated in a resistance training program twice weekly for 12 weeks. Results: The resistance training was effective as evidenced by i ncreases in skeletal muscle strength of 20 +/-9% and 23 +/- 13% for the men and women, respectively. Hematological parameters and serum iron concentra tions were within normal clinical ranges and were unchanged by resistance t raining for both the men and the women. Total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and transferrin saturation were also unaffected by resistance training in t he women but were significantly affected in the men. The men showed a decre ased TIBC (P < .0001) and an increased transferrin saturation (p =.050). Se rum ferritin concentrations decreased significantly in the women (p =.041) but were unchanged in the men. Transferrin receptor concentrations were una ffected by resistance training in the women but increased significantly in the men (p =.030). Conclusions: With resistance training, iron status of ol der men and women changes in a sex specific way.