Following acute physical activity, blood hepcidin concentration appears to increase in response to exercise-induced inflammation, but the long-term impact of exercise on hepcidin remains unclear. Here we investigated changes in hepcidin and the inflammation marker interleukin-6 to evaluate professional basketball players’ response to a season of training and games. The analysis also included vitamin D (25(OH)D3) assessment, owing to its anti-inflammatory effects. Blood samples were collected for 14 players and 10 control non-athletes prior to and after the 8-month competitive season. Athletes’ performance was assessed with the NBA efficiency score. At the baseline hepcidin correlated with blood ferritin (r = 0.61; 90% CL ±0.31), but at the end of the season this correlation was absent. Compared with the control subjects, athletes experienced clear large increases in hepcidin (50%; 90% CI 15-96%) and interleukin-6 (77%; 90% CI 35-131%) and a clear small decrease in vitamin D (-12%; 90% CI -20 to -3%) at the season completion. Correlations between change scores of these variables were unclear (r = -0.21 to 0.24, 90% CL ±0.5), but their uncertainty generally excluded strong relationships. Athletes were hence concluded to have experienced acute inflammation at the beginning but chronic inflammation at the end of the competitive season. At the same time, the moderate correlation between changes in vitamin D and players’ performance (r = 0.43) was suggestive of its beneficial influence. Maintaining the appropriative concentration of vitamin D is thus necessary for basketball players’ performance and efficiency. The assessment of hepcidin has proven to be useful in diagnosing inflammation in response to chronic exercise.

The aim of the study was to assess the anaerobic threshold (lactate threshold LT) changes during winter and summer preparation period in soccer premier league and first division players. It was assumed that the index value varies depending on the stage of a one-year training cycle. Tests were conducted on the premier league and first division soccer players. Physical capacity tests were carried out at the beginning and at the end of the winter and summer preparation period. The tests covered 3 years: 2008-2010. Subjects performed an incremental running test according to Jastrzębski's method. The most important data obtain ed from this test are: running speed (V/LT) and heart rate (HR/LT) at LT.

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The aims of this study were: (1) to characterize the training load structure and the applied training means in typical microcycles of the transition period and the competitive season administered to young soccer players, and (2) to present exemplary training units of the competitive and the transition periods. 20 young soccer players (12-13 years old) took part in the study. Jastrzębski's method based on Sozański and Śledziewski was applied to register and monitor the training load. Data was analyzed regarding the information range (general or specific drills) as well as energetic zones (aerobic, mixed aerobic-anaerobic, anaerobic lactate or anaerobic alactate drills). The results of study show crucial differences in the applied training means in the analyzed microcycles. In a typical microcycle of the transition period general drills predominate, while during the competitive period-specific drills prevail. The total effective time of training was longer in the competitive season microcycle. It is a proper relationship according to the theory of sport training. The range of the training load registered in the competitive season is in line with other authors' research where league matches and small-sided games were used particularly often. The studied microcycles in the competitive season can be model ones and can be used in the training process of young football players.

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