Hematological Comparison of Iron Status in Trained Top-Level Soccer Players and Control Subjects

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to compare the iron status of 19 top-level soccer players and 20 male control subjects. All players showed no impairment of physical performance and had a dietary iron intake adequate to cover the iron losses. Serum iron, TIBC, % transferrin saturation and serum ferritin were not significantly different in athletes and controls: serum haptoglobin was significantly lower in the former than in the latter, the result probably indicating an increase in resting intravascular hemolysis. Since the formed Hb-Hp complex is taken up and metabolized by hepatocytes, it has been suggested that in soccer players a redistribution of iron stores occurs among tissue compartments. A multiparametric hematological monitoring of iron metabolism, just as in runners, is therefore necessary in these athletes, too, in order to detect subjects at risk of real iron deficiency. The pharmacological iron supplementation should be limited to these subjects and only when clinical evidence of reduced tissue iron supply is present.

Iron status in spanish junior soccer and basketball players. (Status en hierro de jugadores de fútbol y baloncesto de la categoría junior.)

“…It is higher than the average intake found in a sedentary male population (Jiménez, 1992;González-Fernández, 1989;Van Dokkum et al, 1991) of the European community and it is similar to other studies with athletes (Burke and Read, 1988;Resina et al 1991). Basketball players have higher intake levels compared with soccer ones (22.1+6.4 and 19.2+3.9 mg/day, respectively; p< 0.05).…”

“…Athletes tend to have less hemoglobin concentrations than sedentary people (Biancotti et al, 1992;Resina et al, 1991). The results of one recent study done in basketball players revealed that athletes' iron deficiency is much higher than in the general population, showing that eighteen percent of them had anaemia (Dubnov et al, 2004).…”

“…Mean iron intake was 19.74 +4.58 mg/day (Table 2) and is higher than the RDA of 15 mg/day set by the US Institute of Medicine (2000). It is higher than the average intake found in several sedentary male population groups (Jiménez, 1992;González-Fernández,1989;Van Dokkum et al,1991) of the European community and it is similar to other studies with athletes (Burke and Read, 1988;Resina et al 1991). It´s important to emphasize that a correct iron intake assures good physiological processes, which are the base of attention, memory, intelligence and psychic behaviour (Lovenberg, 1986).…”

“…Iron deficiency anaemia goes joint with hemoglobin values <13 g/dl in males (Nickerson et al, 1990). These data are important to be checked before starting the sport term, because deficiency can be developed in these athletes who are in the limit values (Nickerson et al, 1990;Resina et al, 1991;Biacotti et al,1992). Athletes have several risk factors for anaemia and iron depletion due to poor nutritional intake of iron, haemolysis caused by repeated foot strikes, blood and iron loss through menstruation, gastrointestinal and urinary tracts and iron through sweating (Dubnov et al, 2004).…”

Indicators of Vitamin and Mineral Status in Athletes' Blood: A Review

“…Seven studies (20,22,26,31,40,41,64) were identified with results for both athletes' (in total 563 males and 20 females) and controls' (242 males and 33 females) vitamin status. Twenty-seven controlled studies on mineral status were found (3,4,11,12,(14)(15)(16)(17)22,(24)(25)(26)33,34,44,45,47,48,54,(60)(61)(62)(63)67,73,74,78), including 1,028 male and 473 female athletes and 688 male and 398 female controls. Most of these studies examined magnesium, iron, zinc, or copper status.…”