A physical conditioning program does not alter fibrinogen concentration in young healthy subjects.

Abstract

Twenty five subjects were divided into experimental (N = 13, 7 male and 6 female, age 32.1 +/- 6.4 yr) and control groups (N = 12, 6 male and 6 female, age 33.4 +/- 5.4 yr) in order to examine the effect of a conditioning program on fibrinogen concentration. Before and after conditioning, VO2max was determined in all subjects. The experimental group (E) exercised for 30 min, 3 d.wk-1 for 12 wk at 70% (initial 6 wk) and 80% (latter 6 wk) of maximum heart rate. The control group (C) maintained normal activity pattern. After conditioning, subjects in E, but not in C, increased (P < 0.001) their VO2max. Resting fibrinogen concentrations (RFC) before conditioning were similar between the two groups, and demonstrated no change in the C group (242.9 +/- 40.3 mg.dl-1 vs 247.4 +/- 38.7 mg.dl-1, P > 0.05) after conditioning. Although RFC showed a 6% decrease in the E group post conditioning (249.1 +/- 21.5 mg.dl-1 vs 236.4 +/- 34.6 mg.dl-1), this decrease was not significant (P > 0.05). A significant increase (P < 0.05) in fibrinogen concentrations were observed after maximal exercise in both groups pre and post conditioning; however, this increase disappeared (P > 0.05) when data were corrected for hemoconcentration. These results suggest that after conditioning the 6% decrease in RFC was not statistically significant, but the possibility of Type II error is high.