Intravenous Iron Supplementation in Distance Runners with Low or Suboptimal Ferritin

• DOI: 10.1249/mss.0b013e3182a53594
• Publication Date: 2013-07-19T10:41:52Z
• Authors: LAURA A. GARVICAN; PHILO U. SAUNDERS; TANUSHA CARDOSO; IAIN C. MACDOUGALL; LOUISA M. LOBIGS; RUTH FAZAKERLEY; KIERAN E. FALLON; BEV ANDERSON; JUDITH M. ANSON; KEVIN G. THOMPSON; CHRISTOPHER J. GORE
• Keywords: Long distance runners; Iron supplementation

Purpose Iron deficiency is prevalent in distance runners and may impair endurance performance. The current practice of oral supplementation slow often not well tolerated. aim this study was to assess the efficacy intravenous (IV) iron (ferric carboxymaltose) compared with (ferrous sulfate) on status, hemoglobin mass (Hbmass), physiological indices running performance runners. Methods Twenty-seven highly trained low (LOW) (ferritin <35 μg·L−1 transferrin saturation <20%, or ferritin <15 μg·L−1) suboptimal (SUB) status <65 were supplemented either IV (Ferinject®) (ORAL) supplements (Ferrogradumet) for 6 wk. Hbmass assessed before at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 wk four groups (IV LOW, SUB, ORAL SUB). In addition, athletes completed a treadmill test economy, lactate threshold, V˙O2max after supplementation. Results Both forms substantially increased levels all groups. resulted higher both from week 1 onward. Hemoglobin concentration did change any group. LOW (mean = +4.9%, 90% confidence interval [CI] 1.1%–8.9%) accompanied by an increase +3.3%, CI 0.4%–6.3%) run time exhaustion +9.3%, 0.9%–18.3%. Conclusions can effectively stores iron-deficient within and, if compromised, enhance capacity facilitating erythropoiesis. appears more sensitive tool measuring changes whole body than be useful diagnosis follow-up deficiency.