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Iron status in Winter Olympic sports
D B Clement1, D R Lloyd-Smith, J G Macintyre
1Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Journal of Sports Sciences
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Winter Olympic athletes, particularly Nordic skiers, show high rates of iron deficiency. Screening for iron status (serum ferritin) is recommended to prevent performance decline in these elite athletes.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Nutritional Science
- Physiology
Background:
- Iron deficiency is a concern for athletes due to its negative impact on maximal performance.
- Winter Olympic sports involve intense physical exertion, potentially increasing iron requirements and risk of deficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the iron status of athletes competing in various Winter Olympic sports.
- To identify specific sports or demographics with a higher prevalence of iron deficiency or prelatent iron deficiency.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed iron status (hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels) in 92 athletes from Nordic skiing, Alpine skiing, figure skating, speed skating, and ice hockey.
- Physicians monitored values as part of a routine health program.
Main Results:
- Anemia prevalence was 7% in men and 8% in women.
- Prelatent iron deficiency (serum ferritin < 30 ng/mL) affected 16% of men and 39% of women.
- Nordic skiers exhibited the highest incidence of sub-optimal iron status, with 50% of women showing prelatent deficiency and 7% anemia.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of Winter Olympic athletes exhibit suboptimal iron status, with notable variations across disciplines.
- Nordic skiing, especially among women, presents a high risk for iron deficiency.
- Implementing screening procedures for iron status in Winter Olympic sports is advisable to maintain athlete health and performance.