Abstract des Autors

The effectiveness of daily oral iron supplementation (DOIS) on body iron status and on aerobic capacity was tested on 2 groups (group I, N = 13, treated daily with iron tablets, 160 mg; group II, N = 15 treated with placebo) of young female subjects (mean age 19 +/- 2 years) undergoing a 7-week intensive physical training program. VO2max was determined during weeks I, IV and VII and blood samples were taken on days 0, 1, 7, 21 and 42 of the training period. While blood Hb and Hct of group I increased significantly during the training period, these variables remained unchanged in group II. Serum iron and ferritin levels of group I were higher than those of group II on days 7 and 21; no differences were observed between the groups on day 42. VO2max rose significantly in both groups (from 39.7 +/- 3.7 and 37.8 +/- 3.5 to 45.3 +/- 4.2 and 43.1 +/- 3.0 ml O2/(kg/min) from week I to week VII in group I and II, respectively); during weeks IV and VII mean VO2max of group I was significantly higher than that of group II. We conclude that DOIS was associated with improved hematological profile, and with faster rates of aerobic capacity increase of young female subjects undergoing an intensive training program. Verf.-Referat