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Running performance in Gambian children: effects of water-soluble vitamins or iron
H J Powers1, C J Bates, R Downes
1Medical Research Council Dunn Nutrition Unit, Cambridge, UK.
Insights
Neither iron nor vitamin supplements improved running performance in children with deficiencies. The study found a general decline in exercise capacity over nine weeks, unaffected by supplementation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Exercise Physiology
- Nutritional Biochemistry
Background:
- Subclinical vitamin deficiencies and poor iron status are prevalent in children.
- These deficiencies can potentially impact physical performance and overall health.
- The rainy season may influence nutritional status and physical activity levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of iron and vitamin supplementation on exercise performance in children.
- To assess changes in running performance and physiological responses during a treadmill exercise regimen.
- To determine if supplementation can mitigate performance decline in children with nutritional deficiencies.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-nine children aged 10-14 with subclinical deficiencies were enrolled.
- Children received placebo, ferrous sulphate, or riboflavin/ascorbic acid supplements five times weekly.
- Exercise tests including expired air collection and heart rate measurement were conducted before and after the 9-week intervention.
Main Results:
- A general deterioration in running performance was observed in all children over the study period.
- Neither ferrous sulphate nor the vitamin supplement (riboflavin and ascorbic acid) significantly improved running performance.
- Physiological measures like heart rate and expired air analysis did not show significant improvements attributable to the supplements.
Conclusions:
- Iron and vitamin supplementation did not enhance exercise performance in this cohort of children.
- Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of deficiencies and optimal intervention strategies.
- The study highlights the complexity of factors influencing physical performance in growing children.
Abstract:
Sixty-nine boys and girls between 10 and 14 years, with evidence of subclinical vitamin deficiencies and poor iron status were enrolled into the study at the beginning of the rainy season. Children were allocated to three treatment groups to receive five times weekly either a placebo, 200 mg ferrous sulphate or 5 mg riboflavin and 150 mg ascorbic acid. Before receiving the supplement, and 9 weeks later, children performed an exercise regimen on a treadmill during which expired air was collected and heart rate measured. There was a general deterioration in the running performance of the children during the study period which was not affected by either the iron or the vitamin supplement.