runners Beware: Low Iron Could Beโค Sabotaging Performance
PORTLAND,OR – A surprising number of runners experience unexplained fatigue โฃand diminished performance,and the culprit may be low iron levels,even without โฃobvious symptoms of anemia.While โคserious medical conditions must first be โฃruled โout, experts are increasingly recognizing iron deficiency asโข a common issue impacting endurance โขathletes.
iron is crucial for oxygen transport in the blood, and even slightly low levels can considerably impair โathletic performance. runners faceโค unique challenges in maintaining adequate iron stores. While foot-strike hemolysis – theโ breakdown of redโฃ blood cells from the โimpact of running – was once theorized as a major cause, research suggestsโค the body efficiently recycles iron from damaged cells. Aโ 1986 studyโข found iron loss through sweat to be approximately 22.5 micrograms per liter, representing roughly 1/800th of the recommendedโฃ daily intake.
Though, the hormone hepcidin plays a notable role. Elevated by exercise, hepcidin blocks iron absorption from the gut, peaking threeโ hours post-workout and gradually decreasing. This suggests timing โof iron intake is critical.”Take it in theโข morning,” advises โฃresearcher lucernoni, “or if you exercise in the โafternoon, โฃmaybe wait untilโฃ late evening.”
Serious โcases of iron deficiency may โขrequire intervention beyond oral supplements. Some runners โฃrequire iron infusions to restore โขhealthy levels. โฃInternal medicine โspecialist Kelly Scott notes, “Any cause of low iron can benefitโ from an infusion if oral supplementation isn’t working.”
Athletes considering infusions must be aware of anti-dopingโข regulations. Infusions are currently โbanned as masking agents. Runners can proactively obtain a pre-TUE (Preliminary Therapeutic Use Exemption)โ – a swift processโข taking approximately 2-3 minutes – toโ ensure compliance โwith anti-doping rules.Potential medically serious causes of low iron, though less common in runners, include gastrointestinal bleeds, colon cancer, H. pylori โ infection, and celiac disease. It’sโ vital to consult a medical โขprofessional to rule these out before addressing potential exercise-induced iron loss.