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Bone marrow iron depression in competitive distance runners
International Journal of Sports Medicine
|February 1, 1983
Summary
Highly trained distance runners may have suboptimal iron stores, even with normal blood counts. This suggests a need for iron supplementation to meet the demands of endurance sports.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Hematology
Background:
- Endurance athletes often exhibit suboptimal iron status.
- Iron is crucial for oxygen transport and athletic performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess iron status in competitive distance runners.
- To investigate the relationship between training and iron storage.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated peripheral blood and bone marrow in 12 distance runners.
- Measured hemoglobin, hematocrit, and iron indices (serum iron, iron-binding capacity).
- Assessed bone marrow cellularity and hemosiderin granule presence.
Main Results:
- Most athletes had normal hemoglobin and iron levels.
- Six runners displayed mild hypochromia (reduced hemoglobin concentration).
- Seven runners lacked bone marrow hemosiderin, indicating depleted iron stores.
Conclusions:
- A significant portion of highly trained runners have insufficient iron stores.
- Iron supplementation may be necessary for these athletes.
- Suboptimal iron stores can occur despite normal blood parameters.