Examining the Relationships Between Dietary Intake, Iron Status, and Physical Performance in Female Collegiate Rowers

Abstract

Iron deficiency (ID) is prevalent among female athletes and poor dietary intake is one of several contributing factors. The goal of this cross‐sectional analysis was to examine the relationships between female rowers' diet, iron (Fe) status, and performance. Fe status (Hgb, sFer) of 54 rowers was assessed; rowers were classified as normal (n=27) or ID (n=27, sFer <20 μg/L, or Hgb<12.0 g/dL). Diet was assessed using 7d food records, and self‐reported 2K Personal Record (PR) ergometer times (in seconds [s]) was the measure of performance. There were no differences between the two groups of Fe status in any of the potential confounders of the association between Fe status, diet and performance examined. Overall, mean daily energy intake (1817.9±532.0 kcal/d), protein (PRO) intake (71.4±20.7 g/d), and dietary Fe intake (mean 17.3±10.9 mg/d) did not differ between Fe status groups. Fe status modified the relationship between PRO intake and 2K‐PR ergometer time such that ID rowers consuming <70g PRO/d reported significantly slower 2K‐PRs compared to ID rowers who consumed >70 g PRO/d (493.9±28.5 vs 474.1±18.5 s). There was no impact of PRO intake on 2K‐PR time reported by rowers with normal Fe status (p=0.09 for the interaction). In addition to screening the Fe status of female athletes, evaluation of PRO intake is warranted due to its interaction with Fe status and effects on performance. Funded by the American Dietetic Association Foundation, the Division of Nutritional Sciences and the N.S. Meinig Professorship, Cornell University.