title: Iron and the female athlete: a review of dietary treatment methods for improving iron status and exercise performance.
abstract: Iron is a functional component of oxygen transport and energy production in humans and therefore is a critically important micronutrient for sport and exercise performance. Athletes, particularly female athletes participating in endurance sport, are at increased risk of compromised iron status due to heightened iron losses through menstruation and exercise-induced mechanisms associated with endurance activity. Conventionally oral iron supplementation is used in prevention or/and treatment of iron deficiency. However, this approach has been criticised because of the side effects and increased risk of iron toxicity associated with the use of supplements. Thus, more recently there has been a growing interest in using dietary modification rather than the use of supplements to improve iron status of athletes. Dietary iron treatment methods include the prescription of an iron-rich diet, or/and haem iron-based diet, dietary advice counselling and inclusion of novel iron-rich products into the daily diet. Although studies using dietary modification are still scarce, current literature suggests that dietary iron interventions can assist in maintaining iron status in female athletes, especially during intensive training and competition. Future research should focus on the most efficient method(s) of dietary modification for improvement of iron status and whether these approaches can have a favourable impact on sports and exercise performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Tourism Management, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, M14 6HR UK ; Liverpool Hope University, School of Health Sciences, Liverpool, L16 9JD UK.
authors.forename: Ieva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alaunyte
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Tourism Management, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, M14 6HR UK ; Brunel University London, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH UK ; Brunel University London, Institute of Energy Futures, RCUK Centre for Sustainable Energy Use in Food Chains (CSEF), Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH UK.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stojceska
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Tourism Management, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, M14 6HR UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Plunkett
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D056352:Athletes; D001682:Biological Availability; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances; D013177:Sports
chemical_list: D019266:Iron, Dietary
keywords: Dietary iron; Female athletes; Iron-deficiency; Serum ferritin