Iron deficiency in athletes. Insights from high school swimmers
T. W. Rowland and J. F. Kelleher
Department of Pediatrics, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Mass. 01199.
Previous studies have indicated a high incidence of nonanemic iron
deficiency in high school runners, but little is known regarding
participants in other sports. The hematologic and iron status of 30 high
school swimmers was assessed at the beginning and end of a competitive swim
season. Iron depletion (serum ferritin level less than 12 micrograms/L) was
initially present in 46.7% of the girls and none of the boys, yet among
those subjects with hypoferritinemia there was no evidence of impaired red
blood cell production. Serum haptoglobin levels were normal and did not
correlate with serum ferritin levels. No significant change was observed in
ferritin, hemoglobin, or haptoglobin concentrations during the course of
the season. Dietary intake of iron was poor, particularly in the girls, in
whom it averaged 43% of the recommended dietary allowance. Menstrual
histories suggested an inverse relationship between the amount of menstrual
flow and the serum ferritin level. These findings indicate a high
prevalence of nonanemic iron deficiency in female high school swimmers that
bears no relationship to swim training. Dietary inadequacies and menstrual
blood flow appear to be important contributors to the hypoferritinemia
observed in these athletes.
