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Thomas W. Rowland, MD; Molly B. Deisroth; Gerald M. Green, MD; John F. Kelleher, MD

Am J Dis Child. 1988;142(2):165-169.

Abstract
• Iron-deficiency anemia impairs exercise capacity, but whether nonanemic iron depletion decreases endurance performance is unclear. In 14 iron-deficient (serum ferritin level, <20 µg/L [<20 ng/mL]) nonanemic runners, hematologic and treadmill running values were followed up during a competitive season. Following a four-week control period, runners were treated for one month in a double-blind protocol with ferrous sulfate (975 mg/d) or placebo. During treatment, the mean ferritin level rose from 8.7 to 26.6 µg/L (8.7 to 26.6 ng/mL) in those patients taking iron and fell from 10.6 to 8.6 µg/L (10.7 to 8.6 ng/mL) in the placebo group. Treadmill endurance times improved significantly in the iron-treated runners compared with controls. Endurance time declined in all seven controls (range, 0.07 to 1.30 minutes), while six of seven iron-treated subjects improved their performance (range, 0.03 to 1.92 minutes). No significant differences in maximal or submaximal oxygen consumption, ventilation, or heart rate were observed between the groups except for a 4% increase in maximum oxygen consumption during placebo treatment. These data indicate that nonanemic iron deficiency impairs exercise performance but does not influence gas exchange or cardiac measures.

(AJDC 1988;142:165-169)

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Pediatrics (Drs Rowland and Kelleher and Ms Deisroth) and Internal Medicine (Dr Green), Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Mass.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Oct 8, 1987.

Reprint requests to Department of Pediatrics, Baystate Medical Center, 759 Chestnut St, Springfield, MA 01199 (Dr Rowland).

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