title: Iron supplementation prevents a decline in iron stores and enhances strength performance in elite female volleyball players during the competitive season.
abstract: The primary aim of this study was to examine the effects of 11 weeks of iron supplementation on hematological and strength markers in elite female volleyball players. Twenty-two volleyball players (aged 27.0 ± 5.6 years) from 2 Spanish First National League teams participated and were counterbalanced into 1 of 2 groups based upon iron status: (i) control group (CG, n = 11); or (ii) iron treatment group (ITG, n = 11), which received 325 mg/day of ferrous sulphate daily. Subjects performed their team's regimen of training or match play every day. Both groups were tested for hematological and strength levels at 2 points: (i) baseline (T0, before preseason) and (ii) 11 weeks later (T11, post-testing). Hematological parameters were serum iron (sFe), serum ferritin (FER), transferrin saturation index (TSI), and hemoglobin (Hb); strength assessments were bench press, military press, half-squat, power clean, clean and jerk, and pull-over. CG experienced a significant decrease (p < 0.05) for sFe (T0, 112.7 ± 31.5; T11, 69.0 ± 20.5 μg·dL(-1); -33.9%), FER (T0, 60.2 ± 28.6; T11, 38.2 ± 16.4 ng·mL(-1); -34.6%), TSI (T0, 29.4% ± 9.5%; T11, 17.4% ± 5.1%; -35.3%), and Hb (T0, 14.1 ± 1.0; T11, 13.0 ± 0.8 g·L(-1); -7.44%); however, ITG experienced no changes (p > 0.05). Consequently, in ITG all hematological parameters were significantly greater (p < 0.05) than CG at T11. There was greater (p < 0.05) percent increase in the clean and jerk (CG: +5.1% ± 20.9 vs. ITG: +29.0% ± 21.3%), power clean (CG: -5.8% ± 30.3% vs. ITG: +44.6% ± 56.6%), and total mean strength (CG: +10.9% ± 3.2% vs. ITG: +26.2% ± 3.6%) in ITG. Our findings suggest that oral iron supplementation prevents iron loss and enhances strength in female volleyball players during the competitive season.
authors.affiliation: ImFINE Research Group, Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Science-INEF, Technical University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain., Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Haro Volleyball Club, Nutrition Centre of La Rioja, 26200 Haro, La Rioja, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mielgo-Ayuso
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Zourdos
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Calleja-González
authors.forename: Aritz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urdampilleta
authors.forename: Sergej
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ostojic
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013030:Spain; D064133:Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism; D054798:Volleyball; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006454:Hemoglobins; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D018977:Micronutrients; D014168:Transferrin; C020748:ferrous sulfate; D005293:Ferritins
keywords: déficience en fer; entraînement contre résistance; ferritine sérique; hemoglobin; hémoglobine; iron deficiency; resistance training; serum ferritin