Effects of Rapid Weight Loss on the Immune System in Combat Sports Athletes: A Systematic Review.

ABSTRACT: Rapid weight loss (RWL) is a common strategy among combat sports athletes aiming for a competitive advantage. However, it imposes significant immunological stress that compromises both innate and adaptive immune defenses. This systematic review synthesizes current experimental and mechanistic evidence on the effects of RWL in combat sports, focusing on cellular immunity, neuroendocrine regulation, and inflammatory pathways. Acute RWL activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, elevating plasma cortisol and suppressing lymphocyte proliferation, T-cell function, and natural killer cell cytotoxicity. Although neutrophil counts increase, their phagocytic and oxidative burst capacities decline, reflecting impaired host defense. Monocyte and macrophage systems shift toward proinflammatory

SUBMITTER: Lee HS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12787199 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature