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Updated: Jun 15, 2026
04:48
Setup of Capillary Electrophoresis-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (CE-ICP-MS) for Quantification of Iron Redox Species (Fe(II), Fe(III))
Published on: May 4, 2020
Iron excess in recreational marathon runners
1Physiology and Behavior Group, Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|March 4, 2010
Summary
Iron depletion affects 28% of female runners, while 15% of male runners show iron overload. Athletes should use iron supplements only when iron deficiency is confirmed by testing.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Iron deficiency and anemia can negatively impact athletic performance.
- Athletes commonly use iron supplements, but iron overload poses long-term health risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the iron status of recreational runners.
- To identify prevalence of iron deficiency and overload in male and female marathon runners.
Main Methods:
- Assessed iron status in 170 recreational runners (Zürich marathon).
- Defined iron deficiency via plasma ferritin (PF) <15 microg/l or transferrin receptor (sTfR) to PF ratio index >4.5.
- Defined iron overload as PF >200 microg/l after excluding elevated C-reactive protein.
Main Results:
- Iron depletion found in 28% of females vs. 1.6% of males.
- Functional iron deficiency observed in 25.5% of females vs. 3.9% of males.
- Iron overload detected in 15% of males vs. 4.7% of females; male gender predicted higher PF.
Conclusions:
- Significant gender disparity in iron status among runners.
- Female runners exhibit higher rates of iron depletion.
- Male runners show a notable prevalence of iron overload, suggesting caution with iron supplementation.
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