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 repletion on VO2max, endurance, and blood lactate in women.
To determine the effects of an 8-wk dietary iron supplementation ( 100 mg.d-1 ) on low plasma ferritin concentration ( < 20 ng.ml-1 ) and endurance , 20 active women ( 19 - 35 yr ) were studied while performing a VO2max test and an endurance test ( 80 % VO2max ) on a cycle ergometer . Subjects were r and omly placed in an iron supplement ( IG ) or a placebo group ( PG ) using a double-blind method . After treatment in the IG , ferritin levels were higher ( 22.5 + /- 3.4 vs 14.3 + /- 2.2 ng.ml-1 ; P < 0.05 ) , Hb increased ( 12.8 + /- 0.4 to 14.1 + /- 0.2 g.dl-1 ; P < 0.05 ) , and TIBC decreased ( 366.2 + /- 24.8 to 293.8 + /- 14.0 micrograms.dl-1 ; P < 0.05 ) . Also after treatment the IG 's VO2max was significantly greater ( P < 0.05 ) than the PG value and their postendurance blood lactate decreased ( 5.03 + /- 0.44 to 3.85 + /- 0.6 mM.l-1 ; P < 0.05 ) . Endurance time to exhaustion increased 38 % ( 37.28 + /- 5.03 to 51.4 + /- 7.45 min ) following iron treatment ; however , this change was not statistically significant . The results suggest that this level of iron supplementation can reverse mild anemia , increase VO2max , and reduce blood lactate concentration after submaximal 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 .