A new University of Melbourne study has
found that women who take iron supplements, experience a marked improvement in
their exercise performance.
Published in the Journal of Nutrition, researchers undertook
a systematic review and analysis of the effect of iron supplementation to the
exercise performance of women in child-bearing years.
Lead researcher, Dr Sant-Rayn Pasricha
from the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health found that iron
supplementation improved women’s exercise performance, in terms of both the
highest level they could achieve at 100% exertion (maximal capacity) and their
exercise efficiency at a submaximal exertion. Women who were given iron were
able to perform a given exercise using a lower heart rate and at a higher
efficiency.
“This was mainly seen in women who had
been iron deficient or anaemic at the beginning of the trial and in women who
were specifically training, including in elite athletes,” he said.
“The study collected data from many
individual smaller studies which generally could not identify this beneficial
effect on their own. However, when we merged the data using
meta-analysis, we found this impressive benefit from iron.”
It is the first time researchers have
been able to confirm that iron supplementation has beneficial effects on
exercise performance.
Dr Pasricha said the findings could have
implications for improved performance in athletes and health and general health
and well-being in the rest of the population.
“It may be worthwhile screening women,
including women training as elite athletes, for iron deficiency, and ensuring
they receive appropriate prevention and treatment strategies. Athletes,
especially females, are at increased risk of iron deficiency potentially, due
to their diets and inflammation caused by excessive exercise,” said Dr
Pasricha.
Other studies have shown that women given
iron experience improved work productivity.
In
addition, this study confirms that iron deficiency can impair exercise
performance in women. Iron deficiency can also produce fatigue and lethargy and
eventually result in iron deficiency anaemia.
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