The frequency of anemia and iron deficiency in the runner

The prevalence of low hemoglobin values among new infantry recruits and nonlinear relationship between hemoglobin concentration and physical fitness

“…This results from two mechanisms: iron deficiency (nutritional or from increased exercise related loss) and hemodilution. In the majority of the athletes the relative hemoglobin decline is explained by plasma volume expansion [7,8,[18][19][20]. This phenomenon is characteristic during the first 3-5 days of increased exercise intensity and the hemoglobin level usually returns to baseline levels within 3-5 days after exercise cessation [17].…”

“…These include self blood transfusion (blood-doping), erythropoietin, and high-altitude training camps [6]. It is widely recognized that athletes frequently have lower than normal values of hemoglobin [7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. This finding has been given different names, which, in themselves further complicate the understanding of the physiology of the hematological system in exercise.…”

“…Terms such as ''athlete's anemia,'' ''runner's anemia,'' ''post-exercise anemia,'' and ''exercise induced anemia'' are frequently used. In the vast majority of the athletes with low hemoglobin values there is no concomitant iron deficiency [7,8]. The relative hemoglobin decline is explained by plasma volume expansion.…”

Assessment of anaemia in football players: An observational study

“…Bloodloss most commonly occurs due to menstrual loss or the GI tract especially following intense endurance events ,but can also occur through thegenitourinary tract, fromexogenous route (blood donation), or pregnancy or birth.Obviously athletes can experience blood loss from any of these non athletic mechanisms. 13 In most cases ,the source remains unidentified ,although gastric and colonic ischemic changes have been the most frequently documented lesions .Gastritis induced by non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) also occurs frequently in athletes due to high intake of NSAIDs for musculoskeletal problems 14 Ischemic tubular damage, as well as traumatic renal and collecting system lesions have been implicated. However, hematuria is an uncommon contributor to blood loss and iron deficiency as compared to the frequency and severity of GI blood loss in athletes 15 Some have suggested that iron loss in sweat may contribute to iron deficiency .It is unlikely that sweat losses are a significant contributor to iron deficiency 16 We must not forget that athletes can also suffer from medical conditions unrelated to exercise and that any evaluation should take this into account.…”

Iron supplementation maintains ventilatory threshold and improves energetic efficiency in iron-deficient nonanemic athletes

“…The prevalence of iron deficiency is lower among male subjects compared with female subjects, estimated to be 2% (Looker et al, 2002). Iron deficiency is more common among physically active individuals compared with their sedentary counterparts (Magnusson et al, 1984;Blum et al, 1986;Balaban et al, 1995;Chatard et al, 1999;Malczewska et al, 2000Malczewska et al, , 2002Sinclair and Hinton, 2005), affecting 25-35% of adolescent and female athletes and 10-11% of male subjects (Constantini et al, 2000;Dubnov and Constantini, 2004). The negative functional and clinical consequences of anemia have been well documented, including fatigue and decreased maximal and submaximal work capacity (Gardner et al, 1977;Celsing and Ekblom, 1986;Celsing et al, 1988).…”