Iron and energy supplementation improves the physical work capacity of female college students
Mann, S.K.; Kaur, S.; Bains, K.
Food and Nutrition Bulletin 23(1): 57-64
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0379-5721 PMID: 11975370 DOI: 10.1177/156482650202300108Document Number: 266026
A nutritionally controlled study was conducted on 2 groups of 15 female college students aged 16-20 years, selected from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India. The girls were either anaemic (haemoglobin 7.7 g/dl) but energy adequate (AEA), or anaemic (haemoglobin 7.4 g/dl) and energy deficient (AED). The AEA group was given iron supplementation (60 mg iron/day) for 6 to 9 months along with 100 mg of ascorbic acid, and the AED group was given iron as well as energy supplementation for 3 months. There was a significant (P<0.01) increase in weight, body mass index, mid-upperarm circumference, and body fat in the AED group after iron-energy supplementation. Haemoglobin, serum iron, transferrin saturation, total iron-binding capacity, and unsaturated iron-binding capacity were below normal in both groups; however, after iron and iron-energy supplementation, there was a significant (P<0.01) increase, and these indices were in the normal range. There was a significant (P<0.01) increase in exercise time and maximum work load tolerance after iron and iron-energy supplementation. Combined energy and iron deficiency had a greater adverse effect on physical work capacity than energy or iron deficiency alone.