RELATIONSHIP AMONG REDUCED LEVEL OF STORED IRON AND DIETARY IRON IN TRAINED WOMEN

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between dietary ir on intake (both haeme- and non-haeme-iron) and its status in trained f emale subjects. Forty female athletes and forty non-trained women of t he same age participated in this study. Blood samples were taken to as sess haematological (red blood cell count - Er, haemoglobin concentrat ion - Hb, packed cell volume - PCV) and iron related parameters (serum ferritin concentration - SF, serum iron concentration - SI, total iro n binding capacity - TIBC). A self questionnaire was used to record fo od intake for seven days and diets were analyzed on the basis of mean daily nutrient intake, energy values, iron intake and sources of dieta ry iron. According to established clinical criteria for iron deficienc y some athletes and control subjects shown iron depletion (20 % and 10 %, respectively), iron deficiency erythropoiesis (10 % and 75 %, resp ectively) and iron-deficient anaemia (10 % and 75 %, respectively). Th ere was no difference in the mean total dietary iron intake between th e two female groups, while the mean intake of haeme-iron was significa ntly lower in the control group. The findings in the present study are : (1) the significant relation exists between serum ferritin level and quantity of haeme-iron intake (but not with total iron intake), and ( 2) 10 % of female athletes have iron deficiency.