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Int J Sports Med 1987; 08(3): 227-230
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1025660
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Anemia in Swimmers: Fact or Fiction? Study of Hematologic and Iron Status in Male and Female Top-level Swimmers*

A. Pelliccia1 , G. B. Di Nucci2
  • 1Sports Medicine Department, Institute of Sports Science, Italian National Olympic Committee, Rome
  • 2Institute of Hematology, “La Sapienza” University of Studies, Rome
* This study was carried out with financial support of the Italian Swimming Federation
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Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

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Abstract

The aim of the project was to examine the hematologic and iron status of a group of top-level male and female swimmers compared with a control group composed of fit, physically active subjects.

The following parameters were examined: red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), serum iron (S I), total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation (Sat), and serum ferritin concentration (S F).

The male swimmers had higher values than the control men for RBC (5364 vs. 5163, P <.01), Hb (15.4 vs 14.8, P<.01), Hct (49 vs 46.6, P<.01), TIBC (341 vs 297, P<.001), and S I (107 vs 86.3, P<.01). The female swimmers had higher values than the control women for MCV (91.2 vs 88.5, P<.01), Hb (14 vs 12.8, P<.01), Hct (44.2 vs 40.4, P<.001), S F (58.65 vs 42.17, P<.01), S I (106 vs 75.6, P<.01), and TIBC (336 vs 278, P<.001).

The differences between men and women were smaller between the men and women of the swimmers group with respect to the men and women of the control group, for Hb: 15.4 vs 14 (P<.01) and 14.8 vs 12.8 (P<.001) and S F: 97.24 vs 58.65 (P<.001) and 99.89 vs 42.17 (P<.001).

Our results show that the male swimmers had a greater iron pool than the control men and the female swimmers a greater pool than the control women, even if it is less than the desired level. Excellence in aerobic sports activities presupposes therefore an increased iron pool.

Key words

tissue and circulating iron pool - aerobic sports activity

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