Dietary Iron and the Elite Dancer.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to explore the causal factors of iron deficiency (ID) in dancers and potential treatment strategies, including optimizing absorption from oral iron supplementation.
Results Summary
The study highlights that dancers are at high risk of ID due to low energy availability (LEA) and dietary restrictions, which can lead to fatigue and reduced performance. It suggests that oral iron supplementation could help mitigate these effects, though specific efficacy data are not detailed.
Population
Dancers, particularly those at risk of low energy availability and iron deficiency.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
dietary restriction | decrease | physique goals | dancers | - | utilised to meet physique goals | #1 |
low energy availability (LEA) | decrease | nutrient intake | dancers | - | impacts | #2 |
low energy availability (LEA) | increase | iron deficiency (ID) | dancers | - | results in | #3 |
low energy diet | decrease | mineral content | - | - | reduced mineral content | #4 |
iron deficiency (ID) | increase | fatigue | - | - | results in | #5 |
iron deficiency (ID) | decrease | reduced aerobic work capacity | - | - | results in | #6 |
iron deficiency (ID) | increase | iron deficient anaemia (IDA) | - | - | ultimately becomes | #7 |
iron deficient anaemia (IDA) | decrease | dancer's capacity | dancers | - | detrimental to | #8 |
oral iron supplementation regime | increase | absorption | dancers | - | to optimise absorption | #9 |
oral iron supplementation regime | increase | health and performance | dancers | - | to adequately support | #10 |
Dancers are an athlete population at high risk of developing iron deficiency (ID). The aesthetic nature of the discipline means dancers potentially utilise dietary restriction to meet physique goals. In combination with high training demands, this means dancers are susceptible to problems related to low energy availability (LEA), which impacts nutrient intake. In the presence of LEA, ID is common because of a reduced mineral content within the low energy diet. Left untreated, ID becomes an issue that results in fatigue, reduced aerobic work capacity, and ultimately, iron deficient anaemia (IDA). Such progression can be detrimental to a dancer's capacity given the physically demanding nature of training, rehearsal, and performances. Previous literature has focused on the manifestation and treatment of ID primarily in the context of endurance athletes; however, a dance-specific context addressing the interplay between dance training and performance, LEA and ID is essential for practitioners working in this space. By consolidating findings from identified studies of dancers and other relevant athlete groups, this review explores causal factors of ID and potential treatment strategies for dancers to optimise absorption from an oral iron supplementation regime to adequately support health and performance.