Oral iron treatment has a positive effect on iron metabolism in elite soccer players.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess the effects of oral iron supplementation on hematological and iron metabolism parameters in elite soccer players.
Results Summary
Iron supplementation (80 mg/day for 3 weeks) significantly increased serum iron, ferritin, transferrin saturation, hematocrit, and mean corpuscular volume in elite soccer players compared to the control group. A higher percentage of supplemented players had ferritin levels above upper limits, while the control group had more instances of ferritin below lower limits.
Population
Elite soccer players (Spanish Premier League and Third Division League teams).
Effective Dosage
80 mg/day
Duration
3 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
oral iron supplementation of 80 mg day(-1) for 3 weeks | increase | serum iron (SI) | group A (GA, n=24; Spanish Premier League soccer players) | P<0.05 | showed an increase | #1 |
oral iron supplementation of 80 mg day(-1) for 3 weeks | increase | serum ferritin (Ftn) | group A (GA, n=24; Spanish Premier League soccer players) | P<0.01 | showed an increase | #2 |
oral iron supplementation of 80 mg day(-1) for 3 weeks | increase | transferrin saturation (Sat) | group A (GA, n=24; Spanish Premier League soccer players) | P<0.01 | showed an increase | #3 |
oral iron supplementation of 80 mg day(-1) for 3 weeks | increase | hematocrit | group A (GA, n=24; Spanish Premier League soccer players) compared to group B (GB, n=11; Spanish Third Division League soccer players) | P<0.01 | showed higher values | #4 |
oral iron supplementation of 80 mg day(-1) for 3 weeks | increase | mean corpuscular volume | group A (GA, n=24; Spanish Premier League soccer players) compared to group B (GB, n=11; Spanish Third Division League soccer players) | P<0.01 | showed higher values | #5 |
oral iron supplementation of 80 mg day(-1) for 3 weeks | increase | serum ferritin (Ftn) | group A (GA, n=24; Spanish Premier League soccer players) compared to group B (GB, n=11; Spanish Third Division League soccer players) | P<0.01 | showed higher values | #6 |
oral iron supplementation of 80 mg day(-1) for 3 weeks | increase | transferrin saturation (Sat) | group A (GA, n=24; Spanish Premier League soccer players) compared to group B (GB, n=11; Spanish Third Division League soccer players) | P<0.01 | showed higher values | #7 |
oral iron supplementation of 80 mg day(-1) for 3 weeks | no change | any other parameters | group A (GA, n=24; Spanish Premier League soccer players) compared to group B (GB, n=11; Spanish Third Division League soccer players) | no significant change | No significant differences were found | #8 |
oral iron supplementation of 80 mg day(-1) for 3 weeks | increase | Ftn levels above upper limits | group A (GA, n=24; Spanish Premier League soccer players) vs. group B (GB, n=11; Spanish Third Division League soccer players) | P<0.05 | a higher percentage of players had | #9 |
oral iron supplementation of 80 mg day(-1) for 3 weeks | decrease | Ftn below lower limits | group B (GB, n=11; Spanish Third Division League soccer players) with respect to subjects in group A (GA, n=24; Spanish Premier League soccer players) | P<0.01 | had a higher incidence of | #10 |
oral iron supplementation of 80 mg day(-1) for 3 weeks | increase | SI | group A (GA, n=24; Spanish Premier League soccer players) after treatment | 58.3% | 58.3% of GA had >800 mg of | #11 |
no supplementation | decrease | SI | group B (GB, n=11; Spanish Third Division League soccer players) | all players | all players presented levels below the lower limits | #12 |
The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of oral iron supplementation on hematological and iron metabolism in elite soccer players. Thirty-five members of the Real Zaragoza SAD soccer team took part in this study: group A (GA, n = 24; Spanish Premier League) took an oral iron supplement of 80 mg day(-1) for 3 weeks, and group B (GB, n = 11; Spanish Third Division League) did not receive any supplementation. In GA, the parameters were measured before and after giving the iron supplements, while in GB, measurements were only made at the time of collecting the second set of data from GA. After supplementation, GA showed an increase in serum iron (SI) (P < 0.05), serum ferritin (Ftn) (P < 0.01), and transferrin saturation (Sat) (P < 0.01) with respect to the basal values. In addition, GA showed higher values of hematocrit (P < 0.01), mean corpuscular volume (P < 0.01), Ftn (P < 0.01), and Sat (P < 0.01) than GB. No significant differences were found in any other parameters. More specifically, a higher percentage of players had Ftn levels above upper limits in GA vs. GB (P < 0.05), and GB had a higher incidence of Ftn below lower limits with respect to subjects in GA (P < 0.01). Further, after treatment, 58.3% of GA had >800 mg of SI, while all players in GB presented levels below the lower limits. In conclusion, iron supplementation with 80 mg·day(-1) for 3 weeks, before the start of the soccer season, can be recommended for elite soccer players.