Iron deficiency in adolescent female dancers.

Abstract

The iron balance of 25 adolescent dancers and 23 control females of the same age were studied. The concentrations of fasting blood haemoglobin, serum iron, serum transferrin and serum ferritin were determined. Iron supplementation (ferrous sulphate corresponding to 100 mg of elemental iron per day) was instigated if body iron stores were low (serum ferritin < 30 gg.l-1). Blood samples were drawn again after ten weeks.Low haemoglobin concentration (blood haemoglobin < 125 g.l-1) was more prevalent among dancers than among control subjects. Reduced iron stores as well as completely absent iron stores (serum ferritin concentration < 12.ug.l-1) were equally common in both groups (25% of the subjects). Iron supplementation reduced the number of anaemic girls from 16 to 4 and the highly significant difference in haemoglobin level between the treated and untreated groups disappeared. Ten weeks of iron therapy was not, however, long enough to increase iron stores.

Dietary Iron and the Elite Dancer

“…Similarly, early work by Mahlamaki and Mahlamaki [15] revealed that IDA (sFer < 12 µg/L, Hb < 125 g/L) was present in 15% of female adolescent ballet and contemporary dancers studied. Low iron stores (sFer < 30 µg/L) were equally present in both dancer and in female age-matched controls (~55%) [15]. Importantly, due to differences in cut off values used, the prevalence of suboptimal iron status in these studies may have been even higher than stated, as the sFer values defined are both lower than that indicative of stage one iron depletion as defined by Peeling et al [62] (sFer < 35 µg/L).…”

“…Of these, four had IDNA (sFer < 12 µg/L) and one IDA (sFer < 12 µg/L, Hb < 120 g/L) [14]. Similarly, early work by Mahlamaki and Mahlamaki [15] revealed that IDA (sFer < 12 µg/L, Hb < 125 g/L) was present in 15% of female adolescent ballet and contemporary dancers studied. Low iron stores (sFer < 30 µg/L) were equally present in both dancer and in female age-matched controls (~55%) [15].…”

“…Although ID appears to be a significant issue among the dancer population, minimal research currently exists ascertaining the efficacy of oral iron supplementation in this population. Mahlamäki and Mahlamäki [15], is one of the only published studies to investigate the effect of oral iron supplementation on dancers' sFer and haemoglobin levels. In this study, a sample of 25 adolescent ballet and contemporary dancers and 23 nondancer controls were provided a daily oral iron supplement of ferrous sulphate consisting of 100 mg of elemental iron if low serum ferritin (sFer < 30 µg/L) levels were detected.…”

“…Nevertheless, iron deficiency is common among athlete populations, with prevalence rates estimated to effect ~15-35% of female and ~3-11% of male athletes [13]. Comparably, the prevalence of iron deficiency of varying severity has been reported to affect 15-53% of female adolescent dancers [14,15], although iron-specific research in this population appears limited.…”

Isokinetic knee muscular strength is associated with hematologic variables in female modern dancers

“…These are also important risk factors for the health and development of women and children (Stevens et al, 2013). Whereas, female ballet dancers may be at risk for iron deficiency (Mahlamäki & Mahlamäki, 1988) due to inadequate dietary intake, growth, training volume and menstruation; and at risk for vitamin D deficiency (Constantini et al, 2010;Wolman et al, 2013) due to time spent training indoors and limited sun exposure. It is important to expose the risk factors in injuries in the context of the health and the careers of dancers.…”