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Iron deficiency in the young athlete
1Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
Pediatric Clinics of North America
|October 1, 1990
Summary
Iron deficiency is common in adolescent female athletes, even without anemia. Low ferritin levels indicate a risk for impaired red blood cell production, suggesting iron supplementation may be beneficial.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Exercise Physiology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Adolescent female athletes frequently experience depleted iron stores.
- Factors contributing to iron depletion include diet, menstruation, and training-related losses.
- The impact of nonanemic iron deficiency on athletic performance remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and implications of iron deficiency in adolescent female athletes.
- To determine if low iron stores, even without overt anemia, affect exercise capacity.
- To provide recommendations for managing iron status in this population.
Main Methods:
- Assessment of iron status markers (e.g., ferritin) in adolescent female athletes.
- Correlation analysis between iron levels and indicators of exercise performance.
- Evaluation of risk factors for iron depletion in athletic females.
Main Results:
- Overt anemia is rare, but depleted iron stores are prevalent in adolescent female athletes.
- Low ferritin levels are associated with an increased risk of impaired erythropoiesis (red blood cell production).
- The direct effect of nonanemic iron deficiency on exercise performance requires further investigation.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent female athletes are susceptible to iron depletion, necessitating monitoring of iron status.
- Athletes with low ferritin levels are at risk for compromised red blood cell formation.
- Therapeutic iron supplementation should be considered for athletes with low ferritin levels to support erythropoiesis.