What Athletes Should Know
Iron is a mineral important for several roles throughout the body, particularly energy metabolism, oxygen transport from the lungs to organs and tissues, and maintaining acid-base balance within the body.
These critical functions mean iron deficiency directly impacts performance.
Iron deficiency is quite common in athletes, especially female athletes (due to menstruation), however male athletes can also be at risk.
IRON LOSSES
Iron is lost each day through sweat, skin, urine, the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and during menstruation.
High intensity and endurance-type exercise, common in athletic training, increases iron losses through heavy sweating and the speed at which red blood cells are broken down to supply body tissues with oxygen.
Athlete iron losses can be more than double that of a sedentary person.
WHO'S AT RISK
Athletes at greatest risk of deficiency:
Female athletes
Vegetarian/vegan athletes
Young athletes (growth increases needs)
Distance runners
Those training at high altitudes
Regular blood donors
Those dieting/underfueling
PERFORMANCE IMPACT
Symptoms of iron deficiency:
Weakness
Impaired muscle function
Fatigue/exhaustion
Decreased performance
Increased heart rate
Increased shortness of breath during exercise
Headaches
Dizziness
Poor appetite
Paleness
Sensitivity to cold
IRON SOURCES
Dietary iron comes in 2 forms: heme & non-heme
Heme iron sources are animal-based and include meat, poultry, fish, oysters. Red meat is one of the richest sources of iron.
Non-heme sources are plant-based:
beans, lentils, tofu, baked potatoes, cashews, darky leafy greens (i.e. spinach), fortified breakfast cereals, & whole-grain and enriched breads.
The body absorbs 2-3 times more iron from animal sources than it does plant-based (non-heme) sources.
Vitamin C helps our bodies better absorb non-heme iron sources. Vegetarians and vegan athletes should pair non-heme iron sources with vitamin C rich foods to improve absorption.
Vitamin C rich foods:
Bell peppers
Oranges & OJ
Grapefruit
Broccoli
Strawberries
Brussels sprouts
Grapefruit
Tomato
TREATING IRON DEFICIENCY
Iron deficiency is diagnosed through blood tests, most commonly by assessing blood ferritin levels.
Iron supplementation without clinical evidence of low levels is discouraged as iron supplements can cause GI distress.
If you are experiencing symptoms of low iron, work with your physician and a Sports Dietitian to navigate dietary changes to improve iron intake and absorption, as well as to determine if an iron supplement may be appropriate for you.
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It should also be noted that coffee and tea may reduce or block completely the absorption of non-heme iron for plant-based individuals, due to their tannin content. Plant-based individuals should not drink tea or coffee about at least an hour before and two hours after a meal. It also helps increase absorption to spread out iron intake, as opposed to consuming it all at one big meal. Thankfully, there are many widely available plant-based sources of iron for these individuals to enjoy. A great option is mushrooms, not only because of their iron content (because there are other plant-based foods that contain more iron) but also because of the fact that they contain Vitamin C alongside the iron. Other options…