Table 4.

Ultra-marathon-induced changes in basic blood counts and selected circulating leukocyte subpopulations

Variable	Reference range	Pre-race	12 h running	24 h running	48 h running	24 h post-race	48 h post-race	ANOVA results
Hb [g/dl]	11.2–15.8	13.9 ± 0.9	14.2 ± 0.6	14.0 ± 0.7	14.0 ± 1.0	12.2 ± 1.1**	12.2 ± 1.3**	F 5,30 = 19.8	p < 10 −3
RBC [×106/μl]	4.0–5.8	4.7 ± 0.4	4.8 ± 0.3	4.7 ± 0.3	4.5 ± 0.4	4.1 ± 0.5**	4.1 ± 0.5**	F 5,30 = 22.6	p < 10 −3
HCT [%]	35–45	41 ± 3	41 ± 2	40 ± 2	38 ± 3**	36 ± 3**	36 ± 4**	F 5,30 = 15.5	p < 10 −3
PLT [×103/μl]	130–400	238 ± 53	283 ± 74*	276 ± 66**	261 ± 55	219 ± 45	213 ± 46	F 5,30 = 15.6	p < 10 −3
MCV [fl]	82.0–98.0	87.7 ± 3.5	85.4 ± 3.2**	84.7 ± 3.0***	85.4 ± 2.9**	88.1 ± 3.7	89.3 ± 4.0*	F 5,30 = 48.5	p < 10 −3
MCH [pg]	27.0–30.0	29.7 ± 1.3	29.8 ± 1.2	29.8 ± 1.2	29.8 ± 1.2	30.0 ± 1.3	30.1 ± 1.3*	F 5,30 = 5.40	p = 0.0012
MCHC [%]	34.0–36.0	33.9 ± 1.0	34.9 ± 0.8**	35.1 ± 0.9***	34.9 ± 0.7*	34.0 ± 1.0	33.8 ± 1.1	F 5,30 = 30.2	p < 10 −3
WBC [×109/l]	4.0–10.0	5.4 ± 0.8	14.9 ± 3.5**	13.5 ± 2.6***	12.9 ± 3.0**	7.1 ± 2.0	6.0 ± 1.5	F 5,30 = 49.5	p < 10 −3
Neutrophils [× 109/l]	1.8–7.7	3.2 ± 0.5	11.3 ± 3.5**	9.8 ± 2.2**	9.9 ± 3.3**	4.6 ± 2.4	3.9 ± 1.8	F 5,30 = 38.0	p < 10 −3
Monocytes [×109/l]	0–0.8	0.5 ± 0.1	1.4 ± 0.3***	1.5 ± 0.5**	1.1 ± 0.4**	0.7 ± 0.2**	0.6 ± 0.2**	F 5,30 = 37.5	p < 10 −3
Lymphocytes [×109/l]	1.0–4.5	1.6 ± 0.5	2.0 ± 0.8	2.1 ± 0.9	1.8 ± 0.6	1.6 ± 0.5	1.4 ± 0.5	F 5,30 = 4.82	p = 0.0023

* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 versus the respective pre-race value; the significance levels shown with asterisks refer to p values with the sequential Bonferroni–Holm correction. Statistically significant ANOVA results are shown in boldtype