Iron and the endurance athlete
Abstract
Iron is a trace mineral that is highly significant to endurance athletes. Iron is critical to optimal athletic performance because of its role in energy metabolism, oxygen transport, and acid-base balance. Endurance athletes are at increased risk for suboptimal iron status, with potential negative consequences on performance, because of the combination of increased iron needs and inadequate dietary intake. This review paper summarizes the role of iron in maximal and submaximal exercise and describes the effects of iron deficiency on exercise performance. Mechanisms that explain the increased risk of iron deficiency in endurance athletes, including exercise-associated inflammation and hepcidin release on iron sequestration, are described. Information on screening athletes for iron deficiency is presented, and suggestions to increase iron intake through diet modification or supplemental iron are provided.
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Low iron status is primarily characterized by tiredness, weakness, and shortness of breath and has been associated with decreased endurance performance in a linear fashion.
“Low iron status is primarily characterized by tiredness, weakness, and shortness of breath [253] and has been associated with decreased endurance performance in a linear fashion”
From Nutritional Considerations for the Vegan Athlete (2023) · cites this paper as [255]
Both oral iron supplementation and intravenous iron injections have reliably been reported to improve iron status and endurance performance in iron-deficient anemic athletes.
“In contrast, both oral iron supplementation and intravenous iron injections have reliably been reported to improve iron status and endurance performance in iron-deficient anemic athletes [255,257]”
From Nutritional Considerations for the Vegan Athlete (2023) · cites this paper as [255]
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References 83 · Cited by 135
- Authors
- Hinton, P. S.
- Affiliations
- University of Missouri (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hinton, Pamela S.
- ORCID
- Hinton, Pamela S.
- Venue
- Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism
- Publisher
- Canadian Science Publishing
- Published
- 2014-09
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1012-1018
- ISSN
- 1715-5312 (ISSN-L)
- 1715-5320
- OpenAlex
- W1907209151
- Cited by
- 135
- References
- 83
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 2
- FWCI
- 1.02
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Hematology › Iron Metabolism and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Keywords
- iron, endurance athletes, iron deficiency, exercise performance, iron status, hepcidin, iron sequestration, oxygen transport, energy metabolism, acid-base balance, iron intake, iron supplementation, athlete screening
- MeSH terms
- Iron Deficiencies, Humans, Iron, Physical Endurance, Sports, Exercise, Iron Metabolism Disorders
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