The effectiveness of a morning versus evening oral iron supplement strategy to increase iron stores was explored. Ballet and contemporary dancers with serum ferritin (sFer) < 50μg/L (n = 14), were supplemented daily with 105 mg elemental oral iron in either the morning (Fe AM ) or evening (Fe PM ) for 8 weeks. A control group (n = 6) with sFer >50μg/L were given no supplement over the same period. Dancers' sFer were measured at baseline and post-intervention. Assessment of daily training load, dietary intake, and menstruation were made. A significant interaction (p < 0.001) showed the within group sFer change over the 8-week intervention in Fe AM (+25.9 ± 10.5μg/L) and Fe PM, (+22.3 ± 13.6μg/L) was significantly different to CON (−30.17 ± 28.7μg/L; both p = 0.001). This change was not different between Fe AM and Fe PM (p = 0.778). sFer levels within Fe AM and Fe PM significantly increased over the 8-weeks; however, they significantly decreased in the CON group (all p < 0.05). Post-intervention sFer levels were no longer different between the three groups (p > 0.05). Training load, dietary intake, and number of menstrual cycles incurred were similar between Fe AM and Fe PM (p > 0.05). Oral iron supplementation in either the morning or evening appears equally effective in increasing sFer levels in dancers with sub-optimal iron status. KEYWORDS Highlights. 8 weeks of oral iron supplements increases serum ferritin levels in elite dancers.. Dancers not consuming an iron supplement showed a decline in serum ferritin over the 8-week period. . Consuming the iron supplement in either the morning or the evening appeared equally effective in improving serum ferritin stores.
Dancers are an athlete population at high risk of developing iron deficiency (ID). The aesthetic nature of the discipline means dancers potentially utilise dietary restriction to meet physique goals. In combination with high training demands, this means dancers are susceptible to problems related to low energy availability (LEA), which impacts nutrient intake. In the presence of LEA, ID is common because of a reduced mineral content within the low energy diet. Left untreated, ID becomes an issue that results in fatigue, reduced aerobic work capacity, and ultimately, iron deficient anaemia (IDA). Such progression can be detrimental to a dancer’s capacity given the physically demanding nature of training, rehearsal, and performances. Previous literature has focused on the manifestation and treatment of ID primarily in the context of endurance athletes; however, a dance-specific context addressing the interplay between dance training and performance, LEA and ID is essential for practitioners working in this space. By consolidating findings from identified studies of dancers and other relevant athlete groups, this review explores causal factors of ID and potential treatment strategies for dancers to optimise absorption from an oral iron supplementation regime to adequately support health and performance.
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