Iron and sports
Myhre, K.; Borch-Iohnsen, B.
Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening Tidsskrift for Praktisk Medicin Ny Raekke 110(2): 192-195
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-2001 PMID: 2300955 Document Number: 357911
We review normal iron metabolism and iron deficiency in athletes with and without anemia, and possible causal relationships. Hard physical training, such as medium and long distance running, appears to promote negative iron balance, with and without fall in hemoglobin concentration. A normally varied diet is suggested as adequate to meet the iron requirements in male athletes. Iron supplementation is not recommended unless blood/serum concentration of hemoglobin, ferritin, iron and transferrin are measured and the results indicate a state of iron deficiency. However, female athletes should consider iron supplementation, since loss of iron is higher in women than in men.