STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTATION OF IRON-FORTIFIED FOOD TO CHINESE JUVENILE ATHLETES BY NUCLEAR ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES AND BLOOD ANALYSIS

The iron contents in the hair and blood samples of 37 juvenile athlete s who were supplemented with 0, 8 and 16 mg Fe/day, respectively, in t he food of ferrous gluconate-containing chocolate for 3 months were de termined before and after the supplementation by INAA, SRXRF and blood analysis. The experimental results showed that after supplementation of the iron-fortified food, the normal ferritin level in the blood of the male athletes was attained and the iron content in the hair was in creased with supplementation, but both are not in the positive proport ion. Most of the female athletes had similar results. It is suggested that supplementation of 8 mg iron/day to juvenile athletes may be desi rable.