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Monitoring Hematological and Biochemical Markers in Exercise Programs: From Health...
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Monitoring Hematological and Biochemical Markers in Exercise Programs: From Health Optimization to Performance Enhancement

A special issue of Sports (ISSN 2075-4663).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 3922

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ricardo Manuel Pires Ferraz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Center in Sports, Health Sciences and Human Development, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
Interests: exercise science; sports science; exercise performance; strength and conditioning; exercise testing; exercise intervention; physical education; football; motor skills; volleyball; psycophysiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Sílvia Raquel Monteiro Martins

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Escola Superior de Saúde Dr. Lopes Dias, Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco (IPCB), 6000-767 Castelo Branco, Portugal
Interests: immunology; haematology; biochemistry, interventional cardiology; physical exercise and immunosenescence

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to gather contributions that explore the role of hematological and biochemical markers in the assessment, monitoring, and optimization of physical exercise programs. Scientific evidence has shown that regular physical activity induces measurable changes in parameters such as red and white blood cell profiles, iron metabolism, and markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, hormonal balance, and metabolic health. Understanding these changes is fundamental for tailoring exercise interventions, preventing overtraining and injury, and promoting long-term health outcomes.

We welcome original research articles, systematic reviews, and short communications addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

  • Hematological responses to different types and intensities of training;
  • Monitoring fatigue, recovery, and overtraining through biochemical markers;
  • The role of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in exercise adaptation;
  • Endocrine responses and hormonal balance in athletic and clinical populations;
  • Individualized exercise prescription based on laboratory monitoring;
  • The role of biochemical monitoring in elderly, obese, or chronically ill individuals.

Dr. Ricardo Manuel Pires Ferraz
Dr. Sílvia Raquel Monteiro Martins
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sports is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • hematological adaptation
  • biochemical markers
  • oxidative stress markers
  • inflammatory response
  • hormones
  • exercise physiology
  • training programs
  • training intensity
  • training adaptation
  • overtraining

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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13 pages, 1593 KB  
Article
Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on Steroid Hormones and Psychological Outcomes in Healthy Male Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial
by Nejmeddine Ouerghi, Wissal Abassi, Nidhal Jebabli, Mohamed Bessem Hammami, Anissa Bouassida, Katja Weiss, Thomas Rosemann, Moncef Feki and Beat Knechtle
Sports 2026, 14(5), 209; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports14050209 - 19 May 2026
Viewed by 346
Abstract
The study investigated the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on cardiorespiratory fitness, hormonal, and psychological markers in adolescents. Twenty-eight healthy male adolescents were randomized to a HIIT group or a non-training control group. HIIT comprises three sessions per week for 10 weeks, [...] Read more.
The study investigated the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on cardiorespiratory fitness, hormonal, and psychological markers in adolescents. Twenty-eight healthy male adolescents were randomized to a HIIT group or a non-training control group. HIIT comprises three sessions per week for 10 weeks, alternating 30 s runs at high-intensity and low-intensity. VO2max was estimated using the incremental running test. Plasma testosterone and cortisol were assessed by ELISA methods. Depression, anxiety, and stress scores were determined using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA with repeated measures. Significant “group × time” interactions were detected for VO2max, testosterone, cortisol, testosterone-to-cortisol ratio, and stress score, but not for anxiety and depression scores. HIIT resulted in increased VO2max (p < 0.001, d = 1.04), testosterone (p = 0.005, d = 0.52), and testosterone-to-cortisol ratio (p = 0.008, d = 1.05), and decreased cortisol (p = 0.036, d = 1.09) and stress score (p = 0.020, d = 0.98). Ten-week HIIT resulted in an improvement in physical fitness, steroid hormonal balance, and self-reported stress symptoms, but no changes in depressive and anxiety symptoms in comparison to the control group. The findings should be interpreted with caution due to limitations, including the small sample size and the lack of assessment of sex-related differences. Further research is required to elucidate the topic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring Hematological and Biochemical Markers in Exercise Programs: From Health Optimization to Performance Enhancement)
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Review

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20 pages, 550 KB  
Review
Exercise-Induced Biomarker Modulation in Sarcopenia: From Inflamm-Aging to Muscle Regeneration
by Federica Marmondi, Vittoria Ferrando, Luca Filipas, Roberto Codella, Piero Ruggeri, Antonio La Torre, Emanuela Luisa Faelli and Matteo Bonato
Sports 2025, 13(12), 444; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13120444 - 9 Dec 2025
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2489
Abstract
Sarcopenia is a progressive, age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function, strongly associated with frailty, disability, and chronic disease. Its pathogenesis involves chronic low-grade inflammation, hormonal imbalance, and impaired anabolic signaling, making biomarkers essential for diagnosis, prognosis, and intervention monitoring. This [...] Read more.
Sarcopenia is a progressive, age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function, strongly associated with frailty, disability, and chronic disease. Its pathogenesis involves chronic low-grade inflammation, hormonal imbalance, and impaired anabolic signaling, making biomarkers essential for diagnosis, prognosis, and intervention monitoring. This review systematically analyzes randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the impact of physical exercise on biomarkers relevant to sarcopenia. Exercise modulates both pro-inflammatory markers (e.g., IL-6, TNF-α, CRP) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-10, IL-15), while also affecting growth factors like IGF-1, myostatin, and follistatin. These changes support muscle anabolism, reduce catabolic signaling, and improve physical performance. In addition, we highlight a growing class of emerging exerkines, including irisin, apelin, beta-aminoisobutyric acid (BAIBA), decorin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and meteorin-like factor (Metrnl). These molecules exhibit promising roles in mitochondrial health, lipid metabolism, muscle regeneration, and immune modulation, key processes in combating inflamm-aging and sarcopenic decline. Despite encouraging findings, biomarker responses remain heterogeneous across studies, limiting translational application. The integration of biomarker profiling with exercise prescription holds the potential to personalize interventions and guide precision medicine approaches in sarcopenia management. Future large-scale, standardized trials are needed to validate these biomarkers and optimize exercise protocols for aging populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring Hematological and Biochemical Markers in Exercise Programs: From Health Optimization to Performance Enhancement)
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