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Effect of iron supplementation on physical performance in children and adolescents: systematic review of randomized
Tarun Gera1, H P S Sachdev, Penelope Nestel
1Sunder Lal Jain Hospital, New Delhi 110 052, India
Insights
Iron supplementation may improve physical performance in children, particularly those who are anemic. Further research is needed due to limited data, but findings suggest benefits in heart rate, blood lactate, and endurance.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Sports Medicine
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Iron deficiency is common in children and can impact physical capabilities.
- Understanding the role of iron supplementation in pediatric physical performance is crucial for growth and development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing iron supplementation's impact on physical performance in children aged 0-18 years.
- To analyze effects on heart rate, endurance, blood lactate, and oxygen consumption.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) identified through comprehensive literature searches.
- Included studies involved oral or parenteral iron supplementation, fortified foods, and measured physical performance outcomes.
- Analyzed data included heart rate, treadmill endurance, blood lactate, and oxygen consumption.
Main Results:
- Iron supplementation showed a significant reduction in post-exercise heart rate in anemic children.
- Blood lactate levels were significantly lower post-exercise in iron-supplemented groups.
- Treadmill endurance time was significantly improved with iron supplementation in one study.
Conclusions:
- Iron supplementation may positively influence physical performance in anemic children, evidenced by improved heart rate recovery, lower blood lactate, and enhanced endurance.
- The current evidence is limited, necessitating further research to confirm these findings conclusively.
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of iron supplementation on physical performance in children (0-18 years) through systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs).
Data Sources:
Electronic databases, personal files, handsearch of reviews, bibliographies of books, abstracts and proceedings of international conferences.
Review Methods:
RCTs with interventions that included oral or parenteral iron supplementation, fortified formula milk, or cereals were evaluated. The physical performance outcomes studied were heart rate, treadmill endurance times, blood lactate, and oxygen consumption.
Results:
A total of three studies were included, in all of which iron was supplemented in the form of oral medicinal iron. At 5, 6 and 7 miles per hour running speeds, the pooled weighted mean (95% Cl) difference (WMD) in the heart rate (per minute) between the iron and the placebo, following exercise was -7.3 (-19.6, 4.9; p = 0.241), -6.6 (- 19.9, 6.6; p = 0.327), and -8.0 (-19.7, 3.7; p = 0.182), respectively. After excluding the study with nonanemic subjects, the corresponding figures were -13.1 (-23.2, -3.1; p= 0.01), -14.2 (-22.3, -6.1; p = 0.001) and -12.7 (-23.5, 1.9; p = 0.021), respectively. Oxygen consumption, estimated in two studies, showed no significant difference between the treatment groups. Blood lactate levels were estimated in one study only at two different doses of iron, and were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in iron supplemented group in comparison to placebo both before (7.71 and 7.55 mg/dL versus 8.43 mg/dL) and after (14.36 and 14.35 mg/dL versus 16.48 mg/dL) exercise. Treadmill endurance time was significantly better in iron supplemented group when compared with placebo in one study.
Conclusions:
Iron supplementation may have a positive effect on the physical performance of children, as evaluated through the post exercise heart rate in anemic subjects, blood lactate levels and treadmill endurance time. In view of the limited data availability, this finding cannot be considered conclusive.
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