Evaluation of the Biochemical and Hormonal Parameters of Athletes

Aim: The aim was to evaluate the biochemical and hormonal parameters of athletes using reference ranges. Methods: The study sample consisted of 25 male athletes with an average age of 28.50±4.25 (years) who played active professional football in the 2022-2023 season. Basal blood samples were collected 48 hours after the game at rest in the biochemical testing laboratory. The frequency distribution was calculated to determine the distribution of the athletes' biochemical parameters within and outside the normal range. The normal values for each parameter and the high or low deviations from these values were analysed. Results: According to the results of the study, ALT and AST levels were 28.38±9.86 U/L and 36.69±14.08 U/L, respectively, bilirubin level was 1.12±0.39 mg/dL, iron level was 114.58±34.63 µg/dL, ferritin level was 110.95±110.94 ng/mL, glucose level was 73.62±6.76 mg/dL and the average HDL cholesterol level was 62.47±12.32 mg/dL, the total cholesterol level 178.58±23.97 mg/dL, the LDL cholesterol level 109.49±19.10 mg/dL, the vitamin B12 level 575.15±251.55 pg/mL, the transferrin level 2.36±0.27 g/L and the thyroglobulin level 103.94±473.45 µg/L. Conclusion: It was found that ALT, AST, ferritin, bilurubin, iron, glucose, HDL cholesterol, vitamin B12, transferrin and thyroglobulin levels were within the reference range and normal range in a large proportion of athletes, but LDL cholesterol levels were too high in 50% of athletes and total cholesterol levels were too high in 11.5% of athletes.