Abstract

To determine the levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and iron status of volleyball players in Madonna University, Elele, Rivers State, Nigeria. A total number of 80 subjects were recruited for the study, comprising of 40 subjects before playing volleyball (20 males and 20 females) and 40 subjects after playing volleyball (20 males, 20 females) from Madonna University Nigeria, Elele Campus, Rivers State, Nigeria. The data obtained from the study were presented as Mean ± SD in tables and analysed using student t-test for parametric data using SPSS version 20. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. The results of Table 1 showed that there was increase (p=0.003) in interleukin 6 (IL-6) after playing volleyball compared to before playing volleyball and no significant change (0.079) in iron after playing volleyball compared to before playing volleyball. Table 2 showed that there was no significant increase (p=0.164) in interleukin 6 (IL-6) of males compared to females and no significant change (p=0.589) in iron of males compared to females. Table 3 showed that there was no significant increase (p=0.921) in interleukin 6 (IL-6) of volleyball players aged 15-25 Years compared to volleyball players aged 26-35 Years and no significant change (p=0.503) in iron of volleyball players aged 15-25 Years compared to volleyball players aged 26-35 Years respectively. The study found an increase in interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels in volleyball players after games as opposed to levels before games, demonstrating that physical exercise raises interleukin 6 levels while having no impact on iron levels.