Nutritional Intake and Hematological Parameters in Endurance Runners

Area of Science:

• Sports Nutrition
• Exercise Physiology
• Hematology

Background:

• Optimal nutritional intake is crucial for athletic performance and health.
• Iron deficiency is a common concern among athletes, potentially impacting endurance and recovery.
• Understanding the interplay between diet and hematological status in runners is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the nutritional intake and hematological parameters of middle-distance and distance runners.
• To identify potential deficiencies, particularly in iron, within this athletic population.
• To correlate dietary intake with key blood markers related to iron status.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 52 middle-distance and distance runners from Simon Fraser University.
• Collected data on daily energy and iron intake.
• Measured hematological parameters including hemoglobin and plasma ferritin concentrations.

Main Results:

• Mean energy intake: 3,020 kcal/day (men) and 2,026 kcal/day (women).
• Mean iron intake: 18.5 mg/day (men) and 12.5 mg/day (women), with women below the recommended intake.
• While mean hemoglobin was adequate, 29% of men and 82% of women exhibited plasma ferritin levels indicating risk for iron deficiency.

Conclusions:

• Female runners in this cohort had inadequate iron intake and a high prevalence of iron deficiency risk.
• Plasma ferritin levels suggest a significant risk of iron deficiency in a large proportion of both male and female runners, despite adequate hemoglobin.
• These findings highlight the need for targeted nutritional strategies to address iron status in collegiate runners.