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 .
Improvement in iron deficiency anemia through therapy with ferric ammonium citrate and vitamin C and the effects of aerobic exercise.
In 781 female college students , there were 41 cases of iron deficiency anemia , 209 of latent iron deficiency , 3 of other anemias , and 528 normal cases . Fifty-four volunteers recruited from the iron deficiency anemia and severe latent iron deficiency groups were r and omly divided into 4 study groups . Groups I and III received 500 mg of vitamin C daily , and groups II and IV received ferric ammonium citrate ( FeAC ; equivalent to 6 mg iron ) in addition to vitamin C for 9 weeks . Groups I and II were loaded by aerobic exercise at 50 % VO2 max . Significant differences between groups were noted in serum ferritin ( SF ) in III/IV , hematocrit ( Ht ) in II/III and III/IV , and reticulocytes ( RET ) in I/II , I/IV , and III/IV . Hemoglobin ( Hb ) and other iron-related blood indices tended to normalize in groups II and IV when compared with the pre-values . VO2 max was elevated in groups I and II regardless of iron treatment , but was augmented more in group II than group
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 .