Exploring the role of dietary carbohydrates on post-exercise inflammation, hepcidin and iron status in endurance athletes

This thesis investigated the effects of pre- and post-exercise carbohydrate manipulation on the subsequent inflammatory (interleukin-6; IL-6), iron regulatory hormone (hepcidin) and iron metabolism responses. Results indicated that high carbohydrate (1.2g.kg^-1 intake post-exercise was ineffective in attenuating the IL-6 and hepcidin responses following exercise cessation. However, following a 24 h period of a high carbohydrate dietary intake (10g.kg^-1), next day post-exercise IL-6 and hepcidin responses were significantly attenuated. Finally, following a 7-day high carbohydrate diet (8g.kg^-1) and exercise training programme, no cumulative effect in basal hepcidin concentrations was observed. Consistent high carbohydrate intake may assist in maintaining healthy iron stores.