Exposure of the human body to cold water triggers numerous beneficial physiological changes. The study aimed to assess the impact of regular winter swimming on blood morphological, rheological, and biochemical indicators and activity of antioxidant enzymes in males. The study includes winter swimmers and a control group. Blood samples were taken twice - before the start (November) of the winter swimming season and after its end (March). The average duration of ice water baths was 3-5 minutes, with a minimum frequency of once a week. The water temperature during the swimming did not exceed 10°C, approaching 0°C during the winter period.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
30
Intervention involves bathing/swimming in cold water during the winter months in open waters
University of Physical Education
Krakow, Poland
blood sampling: platelets and leukocytes
Measurements of: Platelets \[thousands/μl\], Leukocytes \[thousands/μl\], Neutrophils \[thousands/μl\], Eosinophils \[thousands/μl\], Basophils \[thousands/μl\], Lymphocytes \[thousands/μl\], Monocytes \[thousands/μl\].
Time frame: twice: before the start of cold swimming in November and 5 months later (March), after the end of winter swimming
blood sampling: erythrocytes
Measurement of: Erythrocytes \[mln/μl\],
Time frame: twice: before the start of cold swimming in November and 5 months later (March), after the end of winter swimming
blood sampling: haemoglobin
Determination of: Haemoglobin \[g/dl\], mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) \[g/dl\],
Time frame: twice: before the start of cold swimming in November and 5 months later (March), after the end of winter swimming
blood sampling: haematocrit
Determination of: haematocrit \[%\], red blood cell distribution width coefficient of variation (RDW-CV) \[%\],
Time frame: twice: before the start of cold swimming in November and 5 months later (March), after the end of winter swimming
blood sampling: haemoglobin mass
Determination of: mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) \[pg\],
Time frame: twice: before the start of cold swimming in November and 5 months later (March), after the end of winter swimming
blood sampling: Erythrocytes
Determination of mean corpuscular volume (MCV) \[fl\], red blood cell distribution width standard deviation (RDW-SD) \[fl\],
Time frame: twice: before the start of cold swimming in November and 5 months later (March), after the end of winter swimming
blood sampling: rheology part 1
Determination of red cell elongation index (EI) \[arbitrary unit: AU\], erythrocyte aggregation amplitude (AMP) \[AU\],
Time frame: twice: before the start of cold swimming in November and 5 months later (March), after the end of winter swimming
blood sampling: rheology part 2
Determination of: aggregation index (AI) \[%\],
Time frame: twice: before the start of cold swimming in November and 5 months later (March), after the end of winter swimming
blood sampling:rheology part 3
Determination of: half-time of total aggregation (t1/2) \[s\].
Time frame: twice: before the start of cold swimming in November and 5 months later (March), after the end of winter swimming
blood sampling: oxidative stress
Measurement of catalase (CAT) \[nmol/min/ml\], and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) \[nmol/min/ml\].
Time frame: twice: before the start of cold swimming in November and 5 months later (March), after the end of winter swimming
blood sampling: oxidative stress - superoxide dismutase
Measurement of superoxide dismutase (SOD) \[U/ml\],
Time frame: twice: before the start of cold swimming in November and 5 months later (March), after the end of winter swimming
blood biochemistry: Urea
Measurement of: Urea \[mmol/l\].
Time frame: twice: before the start of cold swimming in November and 5 months later (March), after the end of winter swimming
blood sampling: Testosterone
Determination of Testosterone concentration \[ng/dl\],
Time frame: twice: before the start of cold swimming in November and 5 months later (March), after the end of winter swimming
blood sampling: Cortisol
Determination of Cortisol concentration \[µg/dl\],
Time frame: twice: before the start of cold swimming in November and 5 months later (March), after the end of winter swimming
blood biochemistry: Creatine
Determination of Creatinine concentration \[µmol/l\],
Time frame: twice: before the start of cold swimming in November and 5 months later (March), after the end of winter swimming
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