To 400-800-1500 Enthusiast
I got this great info from http://endureplus.com/irondepletion.cfm

Zhu and Haas, Iron depletion without anemia and physical performance in
young women. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 66:334, 1997.

"In the United States the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in woman is
only about 2.3%. However, the prevalence of marginal iron deficiency
without anemia and depletion of body stores­is about 16%. Women who are
physically active are likely to have a higher risk of iron deficiency. This
greater risk may be due to increased iron loss associated with exercise,
along with iron loss in menses, and low dietary iron intake. Because iron
has a critical role in oxygen transport and use, its depletion may impair
aerobic performance.

When most people think of iron deficiency they coincide it with anemia.
However, before anemia rears its ugly head, other damaging consequences of
iron deficiency can occur first. Before going any further it is helpful to
define anemia. Anemia is a condition, not a disease but a symptom, in which
there is reduced delivery of oxygen by the blood to the tissues. It can be
caused by many things including increased destruction of red blood cells,
excessive blood loss, or decreased production of red blood cells, as occurs
with iron deficiency.

In iron depletion without anemia, the hemoglobin value is above a specified
cutoff point for anemia and the oxygen carrying capacity of blood is
generally not affected. However, impairment to utilize oxygen in the muscle
cells may still exist. A decrease in the activity of iron-containing muscle
mitochondrial oxidative enzymes and respiratory proteins has been observed
in iron-deficient animals. Endurance capacity was reduced in these
iron-deficient nonanemic animals. It is thought that the impairment in
endurance was likely caused by reduced aerobic oxidative capacity and was
intervened by increased reliance on other ATP synthesis pathways, such as
anaerobic glycolysis and phosphocreatine breakdown, an increased dependence
on carbohydrate as the substrate for energy and decreased use of fatty
acids.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between iron
deficiency without anemia and physical performance in healthy active woman.
Iron status of the subjects was assessed by examining hemoglobin,
hematocrit, transferrin saturation, and serum ferritin values. Dietary iron
intake was also examined by using frequency questionnaires.

Compared with the iron-depleted group, the iron-sufficient group had
significantly higher hemoglobin, transferrin saturation, and serum ferritin
values. The iron-depleted group had a significantly lower mean VO2max score
compared to the replete group. This difference was closely linked with serum
ferritin concentration; hemoglobin value was not a significant indicator.
The researchers concluded that reduction in VO2max in nonanemic women with
iron depletion was likely caused by factors related to reduced body iron
stores but was unrelated to decreased oxygen-transport capacity of blood.

As an endurance athlete, you may in times suspect that your ailing
performances in training and racing may be due to poor iron status and
perhaps anemia. However, you should never let yourself get to the point of
anemia. Proper nutrition ­consumption of adequate amounts of red meat and
supplementation of erythropoietic nutrients­and correct training should keep
you safely away from any of these concerns (see Feb. 1996 for more on this
subject). Unfortunately, in the real world this is not always the case. If
you do suspect that you may be hampered by iron depletion, have your doctor
take blood samples to check for hemoglobin, hematocrit, transferrin
saturation, and serum ferritin. The first two tests should weed out anemia
and the last two tests should determine the status of your iron stores. If
the first two tests rule out anemia but the second two tests indicate
lowered iron stores, then you may be experiencing an impairment in the
ability to utilize oxygen within the actual muscle cells. A decrease in the
activity of iron-containing muscle mitochondrial oxidative enzymes and
respiratory proteins may be the cause of your hindered performance, not
burdened oxygen deliver in the blood. Consuming plenty of read meat, your
best source for the very bioavailable heme iron, should be a priority in
your athletic nutrition program."

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Symptoms that i have noticed in athletes of Iron Depletion have been
- unexplained drop in performances.
- An athletes who fails to stay on pace early in a race eg 200m into a 800m
just feels leg tired.
- Higher Training heart rate than normal
- Lowered ability to back up for training or races after a hard day.

I believe the situation is very common.


Treatment
Usually causes a good turn around in mildy depleted athletes with 3 weeks.
Athletes need to re-measure Iron Stores early in treatment to ensure that
Iron Overload does not occur. ( a rare but dangerous situation in
individuals prone to it). Typical treament is 2 stronger Iron eg FeFol
Tablets a day with Vit C. Some say last thing at night away from Calcium.
Nevertheless it may be best to follow a Medical Practitioners Advice on
treatment strategies.

regards
Steve Bennett
http://www.oztrack.com