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 .
Iron supplementation and running performance in female cross-country runners.
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of two weeks of high dosage iron supplementation on various blood iron indices and metabolic parameters in non-anemic , iron-depleted competitive female cross-country runners . The subjects were highly trained members of the Colorado State University cross-country team and were completing 40 to 50 miles of training weekly . A pretest , post-test single-blind crossover design was employed . Upon collection of baseline exercise blood and metabolic data , five subjects were r and omly assigned to iron supplementation ( 650 mg ferrous sulfate ; 130 mg elemental iron ) and five subjects to placebo treatment . At two weeks the treatments were reversed . Exercise blood and metabolic data were collected at two-week intervals . Dietary iron intake was assessed using a three-day dietary survey . Dietary analysis revealed deficiencies in vitamin B-6 , iron , magnesium , and zinc according to USRDA st and ards . Baseline blood sample s revealed no deficiencies in iron storage or transport proteins . Two weeks of iron supplementation result ed in no significant increases in blood iron indices . Metabolic parameters related to running performance were also unchanged after iron supplementation . High dosage , short-term iron supplementation appears to have no effect on blood or metabolic parameters in iron-depleted but non-anemic female cross-country runners
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 .