All issues > Volume 47(10); 2004

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2004;47(10):1041-1046. Published online October 15, 2004.

Iron Deficiency Anemia and Iron Nutrition in Adolescent Female Athletes

Yang Kyong YK Kim¹, Bo Young BY Kang¹, Young Jin YJ Hong¹, Byong Kwan BK Son¹, Kwang Hoi KH Kim², Soon Ki SK Kim¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, College of Education, Inha University Incheon, Korea
²Department of Physical Education, College of Education, Inha University Incheon, Korea

Correspondence Soon Ki SK Kim ,Email: pedkim@inha.ar.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: Iron deficiency, particularly iron deficiency anemia(IDA) often not only decreases athletic performance but also impairs immune function and leads to other physiologic dysfunctions. This study was designed to assess and compare iron status and the IDA prevalence in female adolescent athletes with those of general adolescent students.
Methods
: Physical measurements and hematologic examinations were performed for adolescent female runners(n=32), non-runner athletes(n=78) and apparently healthy students(n=511). Iron deficiency was defined as a serum ferritin concentration <12 ng/mL. The diagnosis of IDA was established when hemoglobin level <12 g/dL was associated with ferritin <12 ng/mL and/or transferrin saturation <16%.
Results
: The prevalence of ID in the runners' group(40.6%) was significantly higher than that of the non-runner athletes' group(23.1%) and the control group(25.4%). The prevalence of IDA in the runners' group was 31.3%, which was significantly higher than that of the non-runners' group and the control group(7.7% and 16.4%, respectively).
Conclusion
: The prevalence of IDA of Korean adolescent females was relatively high, especially, in female adolescent runners. Screening for anemia and iron status is warranted. It is important to measure for iron nutrition and to enforce effective nutritional education in these groups.

Keywords :Anemia, Iron deficiency, Adolescents, Female athletes, Serum ferritin, Tansferrin saturation