Abstract

Iron status and nutritional profile in middle-aged trained and untrained women were compared both before and after menopause. Subjects were assigned to one of four groups: 1) pre-menopausal trained (Pre-T: n=15, aged 43+/-5 years, training distance 53+/-28 km/week, VO2max 49+/-4 ml/kg/min, mean+/-SD), 2) pre-menopausal untrained (Pre-UT: n=25, 42+/-5 years, 34+/-6 ml/km/min), 3) post-menopausal trained (Post-T: n=28, 53+/-3 years, 39+/-18 km/week, 41+/-5 ml/kg/min), 4) post-menopausal untrained (Post-UT: n=26. 54+/-3 yrs. 31+/-3 ml/kg/min). There were no significant differences in hematocrit (range 38.7 to 39.4%), red blood cells (431 to 439x10**6/mm**3), mean corpuscular volume (89 to 91 micro**3), and hemoglobin (12.8 to 13.1 g/dl) among the groups. Serum iron concentrations in the post-menopausal women (Post-T: 98+/-28 micro-g/dl, Post-UT: 106+/-29 micro-g/dl) were relatively higher than in the pre-menopausal women (Pre-T: 82+/-35 micro-g/dl, Pre-UT: 76+/-33 micro-g/dl). Mean total iron binding capacity in Post-UT (326 micro-g/dl) was lower than other groups (341 to 361 micro-g/dl). Transferrin saturations in the post-menopausal groups (Post-T: 30+/-10%, Post-UT: 33+/-10%) were higher than in the pre-menopausals (Pre-T: 24+/-12%, Pre-UT: 23+/-12%). Higher serum ferritin levels were observed in the post-menopausal women (Post-T: 39.6+/-28.6 ng/dl, Post-UT: 58.5+/-47.3 ng/dl) than the pre-menopausals (Pre-T: 17.8+/-12.7 ng/dl, Pre-UT: 16.7+/-10.7 ng/dl). Regularly performed endurance exercise resulted in higher protein and iron intakes associated with higher caloric intakes both before and after menopause. These results suggest that menopause could modify iron status favorably both in trained and untrained middle-aged women, and that higher intakes of protein and iron seem to be needed to maintain iron status adequately in runners before menopause. Verf.-Referat