Original Article
Copyright ©2013 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Exp Med. Feb 20, 2013; 3(1): 11-20
Published online Feb 20, 2013. doi: 10.5493/wjem.v3.i1.11
Effects of exercise on leukocytosis and blood hemostasis in 800 healthy young females and males
Kristin L Sand, Torun Flatebo, Marian Berge Andersen, Azzam A Maghazachi
Kristin L Sand, Torun Flatebo, Marian Berge Andersen, Azzam A Maghazachi, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, N-0317 Oslo, Norway
Author contributions: Sand KL, Flatebo T and Andersen MB performed experiments, supervised the students and helped in withdrawing blood and performing activated partial thromboplastin time and D-dimer assays; Sand KL and Maghazchi AA designed experiments, interpreted results of experiments and analyzed data; Maghazchi AA supervised the entire work, performed analysis and wrote the manuscript.
Supported by The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Oslo
Correspondence to: Dr. Azzam A Maghazachi, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, N-0317 Oslo, Norway. azzam.maghazachi@medisin.uio.no
Telephone: +47-22-851203 Fax: +47-22-851297
Received: December 10, 2012
Revised: January 7, 2013
Accepted: February 2, 2013
Published online: February 20, 2013
Processing time: 99 Days and 16.1 Hours
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effects of exercise on healthy individuals of both genders.

METHODS: This study lasted 6 years and involved about 800 healthy people. Individuals were divided into females and males and further sub-divided into two groups; in the first group individuals run (or skied in the winter time) and then rested for 3 h, whereas individuals in the second group intensely cycled for 5 min. The status of health was determined by measuring the sedimentation rate and the intensity of exercises by measuring the heart rate. Blood samples were collected before and after exercise.

RESULTS: We observed that in the first group a significant increase of the total white blood cells, segmented neutrophils, band neutrophils, eosinophils and to a lesser extent lymphocytes but not monocytes in the blood circulation. However, all cell types were increased in the circulation after 5 min intense exercise. No differences in the pattern of cell increase were observed among the genders. Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and D-dimer were also measured in the blood of individuals who cycled intensely for 5 min to determine the coagulation and fibrinolytic activities in the blood. APTT is reduced and D-dimer values significantly increased after intense exercise. However, APTT was statistically lower in males than females, whereas no differences in the D-dimer values were observed among the genders.

CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that exercise whether leisure or strenuous affects leukocytosis and hemostasis in both genders. A major advantage of this study is the high numbers of individuals involved and the inclusion of both females and males values.

Keywords: Exercise; Leukocytosis; Activated partial thromboplastin time; D-dimer