Iron Deficiency in Athletes: The Hidden Barrier to Peak Performance?

Iron may play a critical role in athletic performance

Iron is a key component of hemoglobin and myoglobin, proteins responsible for oxygen transport and storage in muscles, essential during aerobic exercise. When you’re exercising, especially in endurance sports, your muscles need a constant supply of oxygen to produce the energy they need to keep going. This process, known as aerobic respiration, is heavily dependent on iron (iron is what bind oxygen for transport in the body).

current recommendations for iron intake in men and premenopausal women do not take into account higher demands that attributable to exercise or sport.

There is past research that suggests athletes, specifically endurance athletes, may have iron needs that exceed the recommended intake by up to 70% (PMID: 38068803). However, other research shows that iron supplementation does not affect endurance performance if an iron deficiency is not present.

A recent study published in Nutrition (PMID: 39002373) highlights that iron deficiency is surprisingly common among athletes, particularly in female athletes, with nearly 20% affected (35% of total athletes including males). This deficiency can lead to reduced VO2 max, a key indicator of endurance (aerobic) performance.

The study looked at over 1100 athletes and showed that those with iron deficiency had significantly lower VO2 peak values, impacting their endurance capacity. Interestingly, the most iron-deficient athletes were females <19 years old.

findings:

• Iron deficiency without anemia still contributes to diminished athletic performance, especially in endurance sports.
• Nearly 35% of athletes, with higher rates in female athletes, suffer from iron deficiency, which was linked to lower VO2 peak levels.

Recommendations: Regular screening of iron levels, particularly in high-risk groups like female athletes, and ensuring adequate iron intake through diet or supplementation (under medical supervision, in this case) can help prevent performance declines.

For athletes (especially young ones), maintaining optimal iron levels is not just about avoiding anemia, it's also about maximizing your performance potential.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0899900724001655?via%3Dihub