Daily iron supplementation significantly improves maximal and submaximal exercise performance in WRA , providing a rationale to prevent and treat iron deficiency in this group .
Animal and human observational studies suggest that iron deficiency impairs physical exercise performance , but findings from r and omized trials on the effects of iron are equivocal .
Iron deficiency and anemia are especially common in women of reproductive age ( WRA ) .
Clear evidence of benefit from iron supplementation would inform clinical and public health guidelines .
Therefore , we performed a systematic review and meta- analysis to determine the effect of iron supplementation compared with control on exercise performance in WRA .
Effects of iron supplementation in female athletes with low serum ferritin concentration.
Low serum ferritin concentrations are commonly found in female athletes . By study ing the effects of an 8-week iron or placebo supplementation in 31 female athletes ( aged 17 - 31 years ) , with an initial serum ferritin concentration less than or equal to 25 micrograms/l and blood hemoglobin 120 g/l , we investigated whether low serum ferritin values hinder aerobic performance . Serum ferritin concentration increased from 14 ( 25th and 75th percentile : 11 , 21 ) to 26 ( 18 , 36 ) micrograms/l in the iron-supplemented group , but remained at a low 11 ( 9 , 17 ) micrograms/l in the placebo group ( group difference after supplementation : p = 0.001 ) . Before supplementation , blood hemoglobin concentration was not different in the two groups . After supplementation , however , the concentration in the iron group was 139 ( 135 , 144 ) g/l and 128 ( 126 , 134 ) g/l in the placebo group ( group difference : p = 0.001 ) . Iron supplementation did not affect blood lactate concentration or VO2max during an incremental ergometer test . Hence , aerobic performance was not impaired in nonanemic female athletes with serum ferritin 25 micrograms/l
Daily iron supplementation significantly improves maximal and submaximal exercise performance in WRA , providing a rationale to prevent and treat iron deficiency in this group .
Animal and human observational studies suggest that iron deficiency impairs physical exercise performance , but findings from r and omized trials on the effects of iron are equivocal .
Iron deficiency and anemia are especially common in women of reproductive age ( WRA ) .
Clear evidence of benefit from iron supplementation would inform clinical and public health guidelines .
Therefore , we performed a systematic review and meta- analysis to determine the effect of iron supplementation compared with control on exercise performance in WRA .