Effect of iron injections on aerobic-exercise performance of iron-depleted female athletes

Authors

Peter Peeling
Tanya Blee, University of Notre Dame AustraliaFollow
Carmel Goodman
Brian Dawson
Gary Claydon
John Beilby
Alex Prins

Publication Details

Peeling, P., Blee, T., Goodman, C., Dawson, B., Claydon, G., Beilby, J., & Prins, A. (2007). Effect of iron injections on aerobic-exercise performance of iron-depleted female athletes. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 17 (3), 221-231.

Abstract

This investigation examined the effect of intramuscular iron injections on aerobic-exercise performance in iron-deficient women. Sixteen athletes performed a 10-min steady-state submaximal economy test, a VO_2max test, and a timed test to exhaustion at VO_2max workload. Subjects were randomly assigned to an iron-supplemented group (IG) receiving intramuscular iron injections or to a placebo group (PG). Twenty days after the first injection, exercise and blood testing were repeated. A final blood test occurred on Day 28. Postsupplementation, no differences were found between the groups' submaximal or maximal VO₂, heart rate, or blood lactate (P > 0.05). Time to exhaustion was increased in the IG (P < 0.05) but was not greater than that of the PG (P > 0.05). The IG's serum ferritin (SF) was significantly increased on Days 20 and 28 (mean ± standard error: 19 ± 3 to 65 ± 11 to 57 ± 12 µg/L; P < 0.01), with a percentage change from baseline significantly greater than in the PG (P < 0.01). It was concluded that intramuscular iron injections can effectively increase SF without enhancing submaximal or maximal aerobic-exercise performance in iron-depleted female athletes.

Keywords

Peer-reviewed