Hemoglobin, Packed Cell Volume, Serum Iron and Iron Binding Capacity of Selected Athletes During Training

Abstract

Hematological findings obtained by screening topathletes during training in The Neterlands reveal an occurrence of iron-deficient anemia of 2% in male and 2.5% in female athletes. In addition, 3% of the athletes have mild anemia without signs of iron depletion. Moreover, iron depletion without anemia as well as latent iron deficiency without anemia was present in 3, respectively 5% of male athletes and in 5, respectively 15% of female athletes. It is suggested that shortage of iron in food cannot be responsible for the frequent occurrence of iron depletion, and that nonnutritional factors or nutritional factors other than iron, i.e. a fat rich diet, probably play a role in iron utilization of healthy people.

Assessment of anaemia in football players: An observational study

“…The results of the present study correlate with the studies done on sports hematology. 8 The stress of exhaustive exercise causes an initial volume contraction due to fluid loss, which is then followed by plasma volume expansion. Expansion may be 6-25% greater than baseline and occurs within 3 hours after acute exercise The degree of volume expansion correlates with amount and intensity of exercise so that hard training elite, endurance athletes demonstrate the greatest plasma volume increase.…”

Selected indices of iron and fitness status of women participating in an exercise clinic

“…Hct was increased in a group of male athletes compared with sedentary controls (Yoshimura et al, 1980), but values were normal in other studies involving both males and females (Brotherhood et al, 1975;De Wijn et al, 1971;Runyan and Puhl, I98O). One-half of the six men studied by Bunch (1980) had a low hct.…”

“…One report of red cell indices in highlytrained athletes was found; MCV, MCH, and MCHC for this group of women were above normal mean values (Runyan and Puhl, 1980). Serum iron levels were decreased in one group of male athletes (Brotherhood et al, 1975), but were normal in other studies involving men and women (De Wijn et al, 1971;Ehn et al, 1980). Percent transferrin saturation and TIBC were normal in male elite athletes (Brotherhood et al, 1975;De Wijn et al, 1971), but abnormal in females (De Wijn et al, 1971).…”

“…Serum iron levels were decreased in one group of male athletes (Brotherhood et al, 1975), but were normal in other studies involving men and women (De Wijn et al, 1971;Ehn et al, 1980). Percent transferrin saturation and TIBC were normal in male elite athletes (Brotherhood et al, 1975;De Wijn et al, 1971), but abnormal in females (De Wijn et al, 1971). Based on both hgb concentration and transferrin saturation, 2 to 3% of Dutch Olympic athletes had irondeficiency anemia, 3 to 5% had iron depletion, and 5 to 15% had latent iron deficiency.…”

“…The preponderance of evidence sug gests that physical training results in a small increase in plasma volume, i.e., hemodilution (Brotherhood et al, 1975;Dill et al, 1974;Kjellberg et al, 19^9;Oscai et al, 1968;Scheuer and Tipton, 1977;Yoshimura et al, 1980), as well as increased amounts of total body hgb (Brotherhood et al, 1975;Dill et al, 1974;Kjellberg et al, 1949;Yoshimura et al, 1980). Effects on hgb concentration are unclear, with increases, decreases, and no change being reported for highly trained men and women (Brotherhood et al, 1975;Bunch, 1980;Clement et al, 1977;De Wijn et al, 1971;Dili et ai., 1974;Ehn et al, 1980;Kjellberg et al, 1949;Runyan and Fuhl, 1980;Scheuer and Tipton, 1977;Yoshimura et al, I98O). Hgb concentration and blood volume may be independently controlled (Brotherhood et al, 1975).…”