The Effect of a Period of Non-Continuous Aerobic Exercise on Ferritin, Liver Enzymes and Therapeutic Process of Adolescents with Beta-Thalassemia Major in the Maintenance treatment Phase Download PDF

The aim of present study was to investigate the effect of a period non-continuous aerobic exercise on the ferritin, liver enzymes and therapeutic process of adolescents with beta-thalassemia major in the maintenance treatment phase. The statistical population included all the adolescents with beta-thalassemia major visiting the hospitals of Tehran for treatment in 2014. Targeted sampling method was performed. Statistical sample comprised 26 adolescents with beta-thalassemia major vising Zafar Adolescent Thalassemia Clinic and three other clinics in 2013-2014 for treatment and were assigned to two equal control (n=13) and exercise (n=13) groups. The independent variable included 8 weeks of non-continuous aerobic exercise with %50-65 heart rate reserve, for 45 minutes per session, three times a week. The dependent variables consisted of Ferritin and elevated liver enzymes of Aspartate Transaminase (AST) and Alanine Transaminase (ALT) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP). Blood samples were collected immediately before and 48 hrs after the last training session. All the subjects went to the laboratory between 9 to 11 am for blood sampling. The results of ANCOVA showed a significant decrease in ferritin (P=0.000) and liver enzymes of AST (P=0.015) and ALP (P=0.005). However, there was not any significant difference in the level of ALT enzyme. The paired t-test results did not found any significant difference between the levels of AST, ALT and ALP, respectively (p=0.188), (P=0,924) and (P=0.172) in pretest and posttest while there was a significant difference between the levels of ferritin in pretest and posttest (P=0.000). According to the results, it can be concluded that the 8-week non-continuous aerobic exercise significantly decreases iron reserve and some liver enzymes in patients with beta-thalassemia major so that it can be used as a supplement to the treatment.