WHISPA High Performance Sport New Zealand, Auckland 0632, New Zealand.
Te Huataki Waiora, Faculty of Health, Sport and Human Performance, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3216, New Zealand.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Dec 10;19(24):16606. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192416606.
While iron deficiency is commonly discussed in populations of professional female athletes, less is known about highly trained, sub-elite female athletes (e.g., those winning international age-group competitions) who generally have less access to medical and allied health support.
Thirteen non-professional highly trained female endurance athletes provided training diaries and completed a blood test, where iron markers of haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (Hct), C-reactive protein (Crp), serum iron, serum ferritin, and transferrin were assessed. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) and body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were also obtained. Participants were classified as iron deficient (ID) if serum ferritin was <30 ug/L serum ferritin.
Six of the 13 females were classified as ID. Serum iron, ferritin, Hb, Hct, and ferrin were greater in the ID group ( < 0.05). Crp resulted in to correlations with serum iron ( = -0.72), serum ferritin ( = -0.66), and transferrin ( = 0.70).
In this population of highly trained female athletes, 46% were diagnosed with sub-optimal iron levels, which could have lasting health effects and impair athletic performance. The need for more education and support in non-professional athletes regarding iron deficiency is strongly advised.
铁缺乏在职业女性运动员群体中经常被讨论，但对于接受过高强度训练的亚精英女性运动员（例如，那些在国际年龄组比赛中获胜的运动员）了解较少，这些运动员通常较少获得医疗和相关健康支持。
13 名非专业的高强度训练女性耐力运动员提供了训练日记，并完成了血液测试，评估了血红蛋白（Hb）、红细胞压积（Hct）、C 反应蛋白（Crp）、血清铁、血清铁蛋白和转铁蛋白等铁标志物。使用双能 X 射线吸收法（DXA）还获得了静息代谢率（RMR）和身体成分。如果血清铁蛋白 <30ug/L 血清铁蛋白，则将参与者分类为缺铁（ID）。
13 名女性中有 6 名被分类为 ID。ID 组的血清铁、铁蛋白、Hb、Hct 和 ferrin 更高（<0.05）。Crp 与血清铁（= -0.72）、血清铁蛋白（= -0.66）和转铁蛋白（=0.70）呈至相关。
在这群高强度训练的女性运动员中，46%被诊断出铁水平不足，这可能会对健康产生持久影响并损害运动表现。强烈建议为非专业运动员提供更多关于缺铁的教育和支持。
