Abstract: This study aims to reveal the changes of iron metabolism and provide reference for the prevention and treatment of sports anemia by exploring the effects of  endurance exercise on iron metabolism and hepcidin in female athletes.5 mL venous blood was taken from 12 collegiate female athletes before,immediately after,1 day after and 3 days after the 6-km round-the-city race of Hengyang in Jan.1,2015.Tests of serum iron,serum ferritin,hepcidin and IL-6 in the blood samples showed that immediately after the race,the levels of serum iron and IL-6 rose significantly (P<0.05) compared with those at the other time points;one day after the race,the serum hepcidin levels in the athletes were significantly greater (P<0.01) than those at the other time points.It can be concluded that the endurance exercise produced transient effects on serum iron,hepcidin and IL-6 in female athletes.Therefore the iron metabolism relative indexes and hepcidin levels in female athletes should be frequently monitored.

Key words: endurance exercise, iron metabolism, hepcidin, interleukin-6 (IL-6)