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Iron Deficiency in Athletes: Insights From High School Swimmers

Iron Deficiency in Athletes: Insights From High School Swimmers Abstract • Previous studies have indicated a high incidence of nonanemic iron deficiency in high school runners, but little is known regarding participants in other sports. The hematologic and iron status of 30 high school swimmers was assessed at the beginning and end of a competitive swim season. Iron depletion (serum ferritin level 12 μg/L) was initially present in 46.7% of the girls and none of the boys, yet among those subjects with hypoferritinemia there was no evidence of impaired red blood cell production. Serum haptoglobin levels were normal and did not correlate with serum ferritin levels. No significant change was observed in ferritin, hemoglobin, or haptoglobin concentrations during the course of the season. Dietary intake of iron was poor, particularly in the girls, in whom it averaged 43% of the recommended dietary allowance. Menstrual histories suggested an inverse relationship between the amount of menstrual flow and the serum ferritin level. These findings indicate a high prevalence of nonanemic iron deficiency in female high school swimmers that bears no relationship to swim training. Dietary inadequacies and menstrual blood flow appear to be important contributors to the hypoferritinemia observed in these athletes. (AJDC 1989;143:197-200) References 1. Rowland TW, Black SA, Kelleher JF: Iron deficiency in adolescent endurance athletes . J Adolesc Health Care 1987;8:322-326.Crossref 2. Nickerson HJ, Holubets M, Tripp AD, et al: Decreased iron stores in high school female runners . AJDC 1985;139:1115-1119. 3. Nickerson HG, Tripp AD: Iron deficiency in adolescent cross country runners . Phys Sportsmed 1983;11:60-66. 4. Clement DB, Sawchuck LL: Iron status and sports performance . Sports Med 1984;1:65-74.Crossref 5. Rowland TW, Deisroth MB, Green GM, et al: The effect of iron therapy on the exercise capacity of nonanemic iron-deficient adolescent runners . AJDC 1988;142:165-169. 6. Finch CA, MillerLR, Inamdar AR, et al: Iron deficiency in the rat: Physiological and biochemical studies of muscle dysfunction . J Clin Invest 1976;58:447-453.Crossref 7. Celsing F, Blomstrand E, Werner B, et al: Effects of iron deficiency on endurance and muscle enzyme activity in man . Med Sci Sports Exerc 1986;18:156-161.Crossref 8. Magnusson B, Hallberg L, Rossander L, et al: Iron metabolism and 'sports anemia': I. A study of several iron parameters in elite runners with difference in iron status . Acta Med Scand 1984;216:149-155.Crossref 9. Penington JAT, Church HN: Food Values of Portions Commonly Used , ed 14. Philadelphia, JB Lippincott, 1985. 10. Recommended Dietary Allowances , ed 9. Washington, DC, National Academy of Sciences, 1980. 11. Selby GB, Eichner ER: Endurance swimming, intravascular hemolysis, anemia, and iron depletion . Am J Med 1986;81:791-794.Crossref 12. Dickson DN, Wilkinson RL, Noakes TD: Effects of ultramarathon training and racing on hematologic parameters and serum ferritin levels in well-trained athletes . Int J Sports Med 1982;3:111-117.Crossref 13. Pelliccia A, DiNucci GB: Anemia in swimmers: Fact or fiction? Study of hematologic and iron status in male and female top-level swimmers . Int J Sports Med 1987;8:227-230.Crossref 14. Clement DB, Asmundson RC: Nutritional intake and hematologic parameters in endurance runners . Phys Sportsmed 1982;10:37-43. 15. Frederickson LA, Puhl JL, Runyan WS: Effect of training on indices of iron status of young female cross country runners . Med Sci Sports Exerc 1983;15:271-276.Crossref 16. Crowell DL, Crouse SF, Hooper PL, et al: Hematological parameters in endurance-trained and sedentary men, abstracted . Med Sci Sports Exerc 1985;17:293.Crossref 17. Pate RR, Baldwin C, Slentz C, et al: Iron status of female runners, abstracted . Med Sci Sports Exerc 1986;18:S55.Crossref 18. Dressendorfer RH, Askew EW, Rimar JE, et al: Development of sports anemia in men without iron deficiency , abstracted. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1985;17:201.Crossref 19. Martin DE, Vroon DH, May DF, et al: Physiological changes in elite male distance runners training for the Olympic games . Phys Sportsmed 1986;14:152-171. 20. Steenkamp I, Fuller C, Graves J, et al: Marathon running fails to influence RBC survival rates in iron-replete women . Phys Sportsmed 1986;14:89-95. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png American Journal of Diseases of Children American Medical Association

Iron Deficiency in Athletes: Insights From High School Swimmers

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References (23)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1989 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0002-922X
DOI
10.1001/archpedi.1989.02150140087026
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract • Previous studies have indicated a high incidence of nonanemic iron deficiency in high school runners, but little is known regarding participants in other sports. The hematologic and iron status of 30 high school swimmers was assessed at the beginning and end of a competitive swim season. Iron depletion (serum ferritin level 12 μg/L) was initially present in 46.7% of the girls and none of the boys, yet among those subjects with hypoferritinemia there was no evidence of impaired red blood cell production. Serum haptoglobin levels were normal and did not correlate with serum ferritin levels. No significant change was observed in ferritin, hemoglobin, or haptoglobin concentrations during the course of the season. Dietary intake of iron was poor, particularly in the girls, in whom it averaged 43% of the recommended dietary allowance. Menstrual histories suggested an inverse relationship between the amount of menstrual flow and the serum ferritin level. These findings indicate a high prevalence of nonanemic iron deficiency in female high school swimmers that bears no relationship to swim training. Dietary inadequacies and menstrual blood flow appear to be important contributors to the hypoferritinemia observed in these athletes. (AJDC 1989;143:197-200) References 1. Rowland TW, Black SA, Kelleher JF: Iron deficiency in adolescent endurance athletes . J Adolesc Health Care 1987;8:322-326.Crossref 2. Nickerson HJ, Holubets M, Tripp AD, et al: Decreased iron stores in high school female runners . AJDC 1985;139:1115-1119. 3. Nickerson HG, Tripp AD: Iron deficiency in adolescent cross country runners . Phys Sportsmed 1983;11:60-66. 4. Clement DB, Sawchuck LL: Iron status and sports performance . Sports Med 1984;1:65-74.Crossref 5. Rowland TW, Deisroth MB, Green GM, et al: The effect of iron therapy on the exercise capacity of nonanemic iron-deficient adolescent runners . AJDC 1988;142:165-169. 6. Finch CA, MillerLR, Inamdar AR, et al: Iron deficiency in the rat: Physiological and biochemical studies of muscle dysfunction . J Clin Invest 1976;58:447-453.Crossref 7. Celsing F, Blomstrand E, Werner B, et al: Effects of iron deficiency on endurance and muscle enzyme activity in man . Med Sci Sports Exerc 1986;18:156-161.Crossref 8. Magnusson B, Hallberg L, Rossander L, et al: Iron metabolism and 'sports anemia': I. A study of several iron parameters in elite runners with difference in iron status . Acta Med Scand 1984;216:149-155.Crossref 9. Penington JAT, Church HN: Food Values of Portions Commonly Used , ed 14. Philadelphia, JB Lippincott, 1985. 10. Recommended Dietary Allowances , ed 9. Washington, DC, National Academy of Sciences, 1980. 11. Selby GB, Eichner ER: Endurance swimming, intravascular hemolysis, anemia, and iron depletion . Am J Med 1986;81:791-794.Crossref 12. Dickson DN, Wilkinson RL, Noakes TD: Effects of ultramarathon training and racing on hematologic parameters and serum ferritin levels in well-trained athletes . Int J Sports Med 1982;3:111-117.Crossref 13. Pelliccia A, DiNucci GB: Anemia in swimmers: Fact or fiction? Study of hematologic and iron status in male and female top-level swimmers . Int J Sports Med 1987;8:227-230.Crossref 14. Clement DB, Asmundson RC: Nutritional intake and hematologic parameters in endurance runners . Phys Sportsmed 1982;10:37-43. 15. Frederickson LA, Puhl JL, Runyan WS: Effect of training on indices of iron status of young female cross country runners . Med Sci Sports Exerc 1983;15:271-276.Crossref 16. Crowell DL, Crouse SF, Hooper PL, et al: Hematological parameters in endurance-trained and sedentary men, abstracted . Med Sci Sports Exerc 1985;17:293.Crossref 17. Pate RR, Baldwin C, Slentz C, et al: Iron status of female runners, abstracted . Med Sci Sports Exerc 1986;18:S55.Crossref 18. Dressendorfer RH, Askew EW, Rimar JE, et al: Development of sports anemia in men without iron deficiency , abstracted. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1985;17:201.Crossref 19. Martin DE, Vroon DH, May DF, et al: Physiological changes in elite male distance runners training for the Olympic games . Phys Sportsmed 1986;14:152-171. 20. Steenkamp I, Fuller C, Graves J, et al: Marathon running fails to influence RBC survival rates in iron-replete women . Phys Sportsmed 1986;14:89-95.

Journal

American Journal of Diseases of ChildrenAmerican Medical Association

Published: Feb 1, 1989

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