Abstract

The intake of iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid, together with hematologic and biochemistry parameters related to iron metabolism were ealuated in 77 premenarche and menarche girls who practiced rhythmic gymnastics and swimming and a control group of non-sportive girls. The average values of hemoglobin, iron and transferrin were within the reference intervals although for the iron 29.4 of premenarche gymnasts and 60.0 of the menarche had values lower to 65 micro-g/dl. Serum ferritin level was higher in the premenarche girls in relation to the respective groups of menarche, finding values lesser than 20 ng/ml in 38.8 of the premenarche swimmers and among the menarche girls in 80.0 of the gymnasts and 55.5 of the swimmers. The serum values of vitamin B12 and folic acid were also higher in the premenarche girls with the lowest in both gymnasts groups. The average intake of iron, stablished in 18 mg/d, was not reached in any of the groups studied, with values somewhat higher in the premenarche girls and deficit in the intake in 100 of gymnasts and 88.8 of menarche swimmers. Deficient intake of folic acid was found in 60 of the gymnasts and in 22.2 of the menarche swimmers. It can be deduced that the insufficient intake of iron, together with increase of needs caused by physical activity, produced alteration of iron nutritional state in young sportswomen, especially in the menarche girls and lead to deficiency states of iron with the consequent decrease in the capacity and physical performance. Verf.-Referat