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Related Experiment Videos

Iron supplementation in athletes--first do no harm.

Heinz Zoller1, Wolfgang Vogel

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. heinz.zoller@uibk.ac.at

Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)
|June 24, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Elite athletes often use iron supplements, but this can mask true iron deficiency and lead to iron overload. Iron supplementation should be prescribed only for diagnosed iron-deficiency anemia and carefully monitored.

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Area of Science:

  • Sports Medicine
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Nutritional Biochemistry

Background:

  • Elite athletes frequently use iron supplements, despite limited evidence of performance enhancement.
  • Exercise can induce physiological changes mimicking iron deficiency, lowering hemoglobin and ferritin levels.
  • Long-term iron supplementation in athletes can lead to increased iron stores and potential health risks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To differentiate true iron deficiency from exercise-induced changes in athletes.
  • To assess the risks associated with indiscriminate iron supplementation in athletes.
  • To provide guidance on appropriate iron supplementation strategies for athletes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of physiological effects of exercise on iron metabolism.

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  • Analysis of diagnostic markers for iron deficiency, including serum transferrin receptor.
  • Evaluation of risks of iron supplementation, including hemochromatosis and masking of underlying diseases.

    • Main Results:

    • Exercise-induced changes can mimic iron deficiency, but serum transferrin receptor levels can identify true deficiency, especially in young athletes.
    • Elite athletes may exhibit increased iron stores due to supplementation, alongside exercise-induced blood loss.
    • Iron supplementation can mask serious conditions like celiac disease or colon cancer and carries risks for individuals with HFE gene mutations.

    Conclusions:

    • Iron supplements should be reserved for athletes diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia.
    • Prophylactic iron supplementation requires careful monitoring and investigation into the cause of deficiency if no therapeutic response occurs.
    • Indiscriminate iron use poses risks, including iron overload and exacerbation of underlying health issues.