This study was carried out with the aim of determining the effects of intensive training on the blood parameters and leptin levels in young-age male wrestlers. METHODS: In total, 16 young-age wrestlers who were between 12 and 15 years old, participated voluntarily in this study. The healthy volunteers were trained at the Wrestling Training Centre (WTC). The mean value of wrestlers` age was 12.44±0.63 years, height was 147±0.11 cm and body weight was 40.38±2.95 kg. Throughout eight months, intensive training was applied to the wrestlers for a duration of 90 minutes daily for 6-days per week. The athletes were participated in wrestling competitions during this eight-month period. The daily dietary programs of the wrestlers were prepared according to the amount of calories expended in these trainings. The blood samples of the wrestlers were collected at the beginning of training camp (pre-test in October, 2010) and at the end of 8-month training camp (post-test in June, 2011). A paired samples t-Test was used to analyze the differences between the pre-test and post-test values for the subjects. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: After the 8-month intensive training programs, there were significant differences between the pre-test and the post-test average values of age, height and body weight of the young-age wrestlers (p<0.001). There were significant decreases in the mean values of HDL-C, insulin (p<0.05), glucose, calcium, hematocrit and alkaline phosphates levels (p<0.001) in the wrestlers. There were significant increases in the mean values of triglyceride (p<0.05), creatinine and uric acid levels (p<0.001) in the wrestlers. The mean value of the leptin hormone level of the wrestlers decreased, but it was statistically insignificant (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: At the end of 8-month intensive training period, the expected decreases in the levels of HDL, hemoglobin and hematocrit were not seen, and these values had increased. A similar pattern was observed for creatinine and uric acid levels which increased rather than decrease. Applications of high intensive training and weight loss for competition could produce these unexpected results in blood values of these young-age wrestlers. Therefore, it was concluded that this type of intensive training and competition may have a negative impact on the growth and development of young-age wrestlers.
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