Factors influencing the post-exercise hepcidin-25 response in elite athletes.

Purpose: The extent to which hepcidin regulation after acute bouts of exercise is influenced by baseline (resting) concentrations of key iron parameters remains uncertain. This investigation explored the influence of selected iron parameters and 25-km race walk time on 3-h post-exercise hepcidin-25 levels in international-level race walkers.

Methods: Twenty-four male race walkers completed a graded exercise test and a 25-km race-walk trial.