Wang Qi, Gao Ruiyang, Zhu Kongdi, Qiu Huilong, Huang Jiaqiang, Zhang Xia
Institute of Artificial Intelligence in Sports, Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing 100191, China.
Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
Nutrients. 2026 Jan 1;18(1):139. doi: 10.3390/nu18010139.
Iron is an essential trace element that participates in multiple physiological processes, including oxygen transport, electron transfer, DNA synthesis, and red blood cell production. Iron loss is particularly severe among athletes, so maintaining iron homeostasis is crucial for sports nutrition and health. Excess iron, iron deficiency, and ferroptosis can lead to muscle disorders and health issues, including sarcopenia, muscular atrophy, myocardial fibrosis, skeletal muscle injury, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disorders. Maintaining iron homeostasis within physiological limits is essential for athletes to sustain high-intensity performance and accelerate recovery. Therefore, a comprehensive review of the effects of iron homeostasis and ferroptosis on muscle health is significant for identifying potential therapeutic targets and developing new disease treatment and prevention strategies. This paper systematically reviews research progress on targeted therapies for iron overload and ferroptosis in muscle diseases, clarifies the impact of iron on athletes' physiological functions and competitive performance, and explores the potential application of iron in precision nutritional regulation. It aims to provide new insights for preventing exercise-induced muscle injury, myocardial damage, and overtraining syndrome in athletes.
铁是一种必需的微量元素，参与多种生理过程，包括氧气运输、电子传递、DNA合成和红细胞生成。运动员的铁流失尤为严重，因此维持铁稳态对运动营养和健康至关重要。铁过量、铁缺乏和铁死亡会导致肌肉紊乱和健康问题，包括肌肉减少症、肌肉萎缩、心肌纤维化、骨骼肌损伤、心血管疾病和代谢紊乱。在生理限度内维持铁稳态对于运动员维持高强度表现和加速恢复至关重要。因此，全面综述铁稳态和铁死亡对肌肉健康的影响，对于确定潜在治疗靶点以及制定新的疾病治疗和预防策略具有重要意义。本文系统综述了肌肉疾病中铁过载和铁死亡靶向治疗的研究进展，阐明了铁对运动员生理功能和竞技表现的影响，并探讨了铁在精准营养调控中的潜在应用。旨在为预防运动员运动性肌肉损伤、心肌损伤和过度训练综合征提供新的见解。
