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 improves endurance after training in iron-depleted, nonanemic women.
Our objective was to investigate the effects of iron depletion on adaptation to aerobic exercise , assessed by time to complete a 15-km cycle ergometer test . Forty-two iron-depleted ( serum ferritin < 16 microg/l ) , nonanemic ( Hb > 12 g/dl ) women ( 18 - 33 yr old ) received 100 mg of ferrous sulfate ( S ) or placebo ( P ) per day for 6 wk in a r and omized , double-blind trial . Subjects trained for 30 min/day , 5 days/wk at 75 - 85 % of maximum heart rate for the final 4 wk of the study . There were no group differences in baseline iron status or in 15-km time . Iron supplementation increased serum ferritin and decreased transferrin receptors in the S compared with the P group . The S and P groups decreased 15-km time and respiratory exchange ratio and increased work rate during the 15-km time trial after training . The decrease in 15-km time was greater in the S than in the P group ( P = 0.04 ) and could be partially attributed to increases in serum ferritin and Hb . These results indicate that iron deficiency without anemia impairs favorable adaptation to aerobic exercise
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 .