Prevalence of Iron Deficiency with and without Anemia in Recreationally Active Men and Women

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jada.2005.03.005
• Publication Date: 2005-06-06T11:05:44Z
• Authors: Lisa M. Sinclair; Pamela Sue Hinton
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Adolescent; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency; Iron; Iron Deficiencies; 3. Good health; Hemoglobins; 03 medical and health sciences; Sex Factors; 0302 clinical medicine; Ferritins; Receptors, Transferrin; Prevalence; Humans; Female; Exercise

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency with and without anemia in a convenience sample of trained male and female adults. One hundred twenty-one adults (72 female, 49 male) involved in aerobic training (11.2+/-6.3 hr/wk for >/=6 consecutive months), ages 18 to 41 years old, participated in an iron status screening. The concentrations of hemoglobin (Hb), ferritin, and transferrin receptor were measured in serum to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency with and without anemia. Eight individuals (seven female, one male) had iron deficiency with anemia (serum ferritin <16 microg/L; Hb<120 g/L female, <136 g/L male). Iron deficiency without anemia (serum ferritin /=4.5) found 36% of female and 6% of male subjects to be iron deficient without anemia. Recreational athletes should be screened for iron deficiency without anemia using serum ferritin, serum transferrin receptor, and Hb.