Moderate Aerobic Exercise Improves Hematological Parameters in Sedentary Young Adults

Moderate aerobic exercise improves key hematological parameters such as red and white blood cell count and hemoglobin concentration without altering cardiometabolic enzyme activities in sedentary healthy young males and females, with investigators noting in their discussion published in BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation that such exercise can be immensely beneficial for this population.¹

Aerobic exercise is known to improve health parameters, especially in the cardiovascular system. | Image Credit: © bunyarit - stock.adobe.com

Exercise and general physical activity have consistently been known to improve cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological systems. Furthermore, it is generally known that aerobic exercise in trained athletes can induce positive hematologic alterations through the improvements of red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts. It is also pertinent to elucidate the negative tissue effects that moderate exercise may have on key biomarkers and cardiometabolic enzymes, as reports have documented alterations in key cardiac-related factors during increased physical activity.^2,3

Despite the proven association between heightened aerobic exercise and improved hematologic incidences in athletes, it had not been fully described whether this association can be applied in apparently sedentary adults. Accordingly, investigators had yet to investigate whether aerobic exercise can indeed alter cardiometabolic enzymes that present as markers of tissue injury. Therefore, authors of the present study sought to compare hematologic parameters and cardiometabolic enzymes of male and female sedentary patients prior to and following moderate aerobic exercise, with the belief that such a regimen would meaningfully alter these parameters in this patient population.^1-3

In total, 40 participants—20 males and 20 females—met the study inclusion criteria. Participants ran on a treadmill for their moderate aerobic exercise and lasted a total of 20 minutes. These exercises continued for 14 consecutive days, and the study participants were asked not to engage in strenuous activities throughout the course of the study. The 2-week study duration was selected based on literature indicating that alterations in blood, plasma, and red cell volume during physical activity plateau after around 12 to 14 days, according to the investigators.^1,4

Anthropometric parameters were assessed to begin the author’s discussion. Aligning with their pre-study hypothesis, the investigators found a significant (P < .05) decrease in body weight (62 ± 2.9 vs 59 ± 3.2 kg) and body mass index (BMI; 23.9 ± 1.7 vs 21.3 ± 1.4 kg/m²) in females following 14 days of exercise. Notably, no differences in either body weight (65 ± 1.7 vs 62 ± 1.8 kg) or BMI (21.3 ± 0.74 vs 20 ± 0.6 kg/m²) were observed in males following the exercise period.¹

Next, the investigators assessed various cardiometabolic parameters. There were no significant changes observed in the serum level of lactate dehydrogenase enzymes in both male and female participants before and after exercise, with similar results observed for N-acetyl-cysteine-(NAC)-activated creatine kinase (CK-NAC) and creatine kinase (CK-MB), according to the study authors. Lastly, they reported no significant change in the serum level of cardiac troponin T, a key result when considering troponin’s role as a calcium-binding protein in the heart.¹

Moving to specific hematological parameters, investigators found a major increase in RBC count in male and female participants following 14 days of moderate exercise compared with baseline values. Hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration in both males and females also significantly increased following exercise. Interestingly, the investigators observed a decrease in mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration after the 2-week exercise period. Further, a significant increase in WBC count was seen in both males and females following their period of exercise.¹

“Since the hematological values are within the normal reference range for healthy population, the regular moderate aerobic exercise can be of immense benefit to sedentary population of non-athletes,” the study authors concluded.¹

REFERENCES

1. Okon IA, Beshel JA, Owu DU, et al. Moderate aerobic exercise improves haematological indices without altering cardio-metabolic enzyme activities in sedentary healthy young adults. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025;17(32). doi:10.1186/s13102-025-01080-y

2. Carin R, Deglicourt G, Rezigue H, et al. Effects of a maximal exercise followed by a submaximal exercise performed in normobaric hypoxia (2500 m) on blood rheology, red blood cell senescence, and coagulation in well-trained cyclists. Metabolites. 2023;13(2):179. doi:10.3390/metabo13020179

3. Bekkelund SI. Leisure physical exercise and creatine kinase activity: The Tromsø study. Scandinavian Journ Med Science Sports. 2020;30(12):2437-2444. doi:10.1111/sms.13809

4. Belviranli M, Okudan N, Kabak B. The effects of acute high-intensity interval training on hematological parameters in sedentary subjects. Medical Sciences. 2017;5(3):15. doi:10.3390/medsci5030015