Department for Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
Bundeswehr Medical Service Headquarters, 56070 Koblenz, Germany.
Nutrients. 2022 Oct 27;14(21):4511. doi: 10.3390/nu14214511.
Background: Iron deficiency is a common phenomenon in sports and may lead to impaired physical performance. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of iron deficiency in competitive athletes and to discuss the resulting consequences. Methods: The data of 629 athletes (339 male, 290 female) who presented for their annual basic sports medicine examination were investigated. Depending on age (<14 years, 15−17 years, ≥18−30 years), four groups ((I.) normal hemoglobin (Hb) and ferritin level (≥30 ng/mL for adults and 15−18-year-olds; ≥20 ng/mL, respectively, ≥15 ng/mL for adolescents and children), (II.) prelatent iron deficiency (ID) (normal Hb, low ferritin), (III.) latent ID (additionally elevated soluble transferrin receptor or decreased transferrin saturation) and (IV.) manifest anemia) were distinguished. In addition, the iron status and exercise capacity of different types of sports were compared. Results: Overall we found an iron deficiency of 10.9% in male (mainly in adolescence) and 35.9% in female athletes (emphasized in adolescence and young adulthood). There were no significant differences in iron status in regard to the different sport types or in maximum performance for the different groups of iron deficiency. Conclusions: Adolescent and female athletes are more likely to have an iron deficiency. Therapy concepts for athletes therefore should pay attention to iron-rich diets.
铁缺乏是运动中常见的现象，可能导致身体机能受损。本研究旨在确定竞技运动员铁缺乏的频率，并讨论由此产生的后果。
对 629 名运动员（男性 339 名，女性 290 名）进行年度基本运动医学检查的数据进行了调查。根据年龄（<14 岁、15-17 岁、≥18-30 岁），将运动员分为四组（I. 正常血红蛋白（Hb）和铁蛋白水平（成人和 15-17 岁者≥30ng/mL；分别为青少年和儿童≥20ng/mL，≥15ng/mL），II. 潜伏性缺铁（ID）（正常 Hb，低铁蛋白），III. 潜伏性 ID（可溶性转铁蛋白受体升高或转铁蛋白饱和度降低）和 IV. 显性贫血）。此外，还比较了不同类型运动的铁状态和运动能力。
我们发现男性运动员（主要在青春期）铁缺乏率为 10.9%，女性运动员为 35.9%（在青春期和青年期更为明显）。不同运动类型的铁状态或不同缺铁组的最大运动表现无显著差异。
青少年和女性运动员更容易出现铁缺乏。因此，运动员的治疗方案应注意富含铁的饮食。
