Bekir TOKAY
Journal of Basic and Clinical Health Sciences - 2026;10(2):229-239
Purpose: This study aimed to assess baseline hematological profiles and systemic inflammatory status of elite (EWL) and sub-elite (S-EWL) female weightlifters in relation to performance. Material and Methods: Twenty-seven female athletes (Age: 18.48 +/- 1.72 years) were categorized as EWL (n = 14) or S-EWL (n = 13). Age, height, body weight, BMI, training experience, and maximal snatch (MSn), clean & jerk (MC&J), and total lift (MTotal) performances were recorded. Performance values were adjusted for body weight using allometric scaling (ASn, AC&J, ATotal). Basal hematological parameters and systemic inflammatory markers were analyzed. Between-group comparisons were performed using Mann-Whitney U test, and correlations were assessed with Spearman's coefficient. Results: No significant differences were found in demographics or training experience (p > 0.05). EWL showed significantly MSn (p = 0.011), MC&J (p = 0.004), and MTotal (p = 0.005) performances. Allometrically scaled relative strength was superior in EWL for AC&J and ATotal (p < 0.05). Hematological and inflammatory parameters were largely similar, although MONO% was higher in EWL (p = 0.046). In EWL, NEU% and NLR positively correlated with ASn performance (r = 0.631 and r = 0.565; p < 0.05); no significant correlations were observed in S-EWL. Conclusion: Elite female weightlifters exhibited superior absolute and allometrically scaled performance compared to sub-elites. Hematological and inflammatory markers were similar between groups, except for MONO%, which was elevated in elite athletes, potentially reflecting adaptive immune responses. These findings underscore the importance of individualized training and recovery strategies and regular blood monitoring to optimize performance and prevent overtraining.
