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Is iron treatment beneficial in, iron-deficient but non-anaemic (IDNA) endurance athletes? A meta-analysis
  1. Richard J Burden1,
  2. Katie Morton1,
  3. Toby Richards2,
  4. Gregory P Whyte3,
  5. Charles R Pedlar1
  1. 1Centre for Health, Applied Sport and Exercise Science, St. Mary's University, Twickenham, UK
  2. 2Division of Surgery, University College London, London, UK
  3. 3Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
  1. Correspondence to Richard J Burden, Centre for Health, Applied Sport and Exercise Science, St Mary's University, Waldegrave Road, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 4SX, UK; richard.burden{at}smuc.ac.uk

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to determine whether iron treatments improve the iron status and aerobic capacity of iron deficient non-anaemic endurance athletes.

Method A meta-analysis of studies that investigated the effects of iron treatment on serum ferritin (sFer), serum iron (sFe), transferrin saturation (Tsat), haemoglobin concentration ([Hb]) and (Embedded Image). Seventeen eligible studies were identified from online databases.

Results Analysis of pooled data indicated that iron treatments had a large effect on improving sFer (Hedges’ g=1.088, 95% CI 0.914 to 1.263, p<0.001), sFe (Hedges’ g=1.004, 95% CI 0.828 to 1.181, p<0.001) and Tsat (Hedges g=0.741, 95% CI 0.564 to 0.919, p<0.001) and a moderate effect on improving [Hb] (Hedges’ g=0.695, 95% CI 0.533 to 0.836, p<0.001) and Embedded Image (Hedges’ g=0.610, 95% CI 0.399 to 0.821, p<0.001). Regression analysis revealed a significant interaction between the effect of iron treatment on sFer and treatment duration, suggesting treatments that lasted beyond 80 days appear to have the least effect on sFer.

Conclusions These results indicate iron treatments improve the iron status and aerobic capacity of iron deficient non-anaemic endurance athletes.

  • Anaemia
  • Iron metabolism
  • Endurance
  • Aerobic fitness
  • Running

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2014-093624

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