Related Experiment Videos
Iron status and diet in athletes
R D Telford1, R B Cunningham, V Deakin
1Department of Physiology/Applied Nutrition, Australian Institute of Sport, Belconnen ACT.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|July 1, 1993
Summary
Dietary protein percentage, kilojoules, and carbohydrate intake, not iron or meat, influence iron status markers in athletes. This study highlights key nutritional factors affecting ferritin levels in athletic populations.
Area of Science:
- Sports Nutrition
- Biochemistry
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Iron status is crucial for athletic performance.
- Plasma ferritin (F) is a common indicator of iron status.
- Understanding dietary influences on iron status in athletes is important.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between dietary intake and plasma ferritin levels in healthy, nonanemic athletes.
- To identify key macronutrients and energy intake factors influencing iron status.
Main Methods:
- Plasma ferritin concentrations were measured in 24 male and 45 female athletes.
- Dietary intake was assessed using a supervised food frequency questionnaire.
- Linear regression analysis was used to correlate plasma ferritin with nutrient intake (iron, meat, protein, carbohydrate, fat, fiber) and kilojoules.
Main Results:
- Plasma ferritin showed negative correlations with kilojoules (Kj) and carbohydrate (CHO) intake.
- A positive correlation was observed between plasma ferritin and the ratio of protein to kilojoules (Pr/Kj).
- No significant relationships were found between plasma ferritin and iron (Fe), meat (M), fat (Fa), or fiber (Fi) intake.
Conclusions:
- Dietary iron and meat intake do not appear to be primary determinants of iron status in these athletes.
- The percentage of protein in the diet, alongside kilojoule and carbohydrate intake, may be more influential on plasma ferritin levels.
- These findings suggest that energy expenditure, reflected by Kj and CHO intake, may indirectly impact iron status markers.