Hematological Indices and Iron Status in Adolescents Competitive Swimmers of Both Sexes

Abstract

2049 There are still controversies regarding levels of ferritin in young endurance sports athletes necessary to keep performance and growing. A high prevalence of nonanaemic iron deficiency in young athletes involved in swimming training, is related in recent literature. Although as we known that alterations of the red blood cell system and iron metabolism can influence physical performance, the data of specific type and duration of exercise parameters in adolescents population is still deficiency. PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to describe the characteristics of the red blood cell system and iron metabolism in adolescents swimmers involved in specific physical trainning program. METHODS: We studied forty six (20 female,26 male) adolescents (13+2 years). competitive swimmers. The hematological indices were analysed in standarized blood samples obtained after one day of rest. All the subjects were physically active and exercised regularly six times/week, two hours/day to reach three miles on specific stage of trainning. RESULTS: Haematological parameters and iron status of trained adolescents revealed nonanaemia. Hemoglobin (girls 13.6 ± 0.7ìg/dL; boys 13.7 ± 2.0ìg/dL), hematocrit (girls 140.2 ± 1.6 mL eritroc./dL; boys 40.4 ± 6.8 mL eritroc./dL), red blood cell count (girls 4.7 ± 02106/ìL; boys 4.8 ± 0.7106/ìL) serum iron (girls 111 ± 36ìg/dL; boys 105 ± 37ìg/dL) transferrin saturation (girls 36 ± 23%; boys 32 ± 17%), serum ferritin (girls 19 ± 15ìg/L; boys 26 ± 19ìg/L) and total ironbinding capacity (girls 347 ± 84ìg/dL; boys 343 ± 72ìg/dL) Twenty three percent of boys and fifty five percent of girls presented low serum ferritin. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate high prevalence(36%) of nonanaemic iron deficiency in young athletes and bear relationship to swimming training. The evidence of these data indicates that swimmers may be in need of iron supplementation to prevent the development of anaemia.