Zheng et al 1 report that volunteer blood donors with a high donation frequency have significantly greater flow-mediated dilation than low frequency donors. Iron status among the frequent donors approximated a state of iron depletion by assessment of conventional iron markers. The study provides important support for the “iron hypothesis,” which suggests a protective effect of iron depletion, i...

Surveys in Australia, New Zealand and other industrialised countries report that many adolescent girls have dietary intakes of iron and zinc that fail to meet their high physiological requirements for growing body tissues, expanding red cell mass, and onset of menarche. Such dietary inadequacies can be attributed to poor food selection patterns, and low energy intakes. Additional exacerbating n...

BACKGROUND/AIM Iron is a vital constituent of hemoglobin, myoglobin, and some mitochondrial enzymes; therefore, body iron deficiency may result in reduced aerobic capacity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of daily oral iron supplementation on body iron status, and the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) in female athletes with latent iron deficiency, as well as with iron-deficiency...

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this work was to assess the effect of severe maternal iron-deficiency anemia and nutritional status on cord blood and breast milk iron status. METHODS We conducted a prospective observational study over a 6-month period in a teaching hospital in central India. The study population consisted of 55 anemic (hemoglobin: < 110 g/L) and 20 healthy nonanemic (hemoglobin: > ...

BACKGROUND Adequate nutrient intake is critically important for achieving optimal sports performance. Like all athletes, female runners require a nutritionally balanced diet to maintain daily activities and a successful training regime. This study investigates the effects of cereal product based dietary iron intervention on iron status of recreational female runners (n = 11; 32 ± 7yr; 239 ± 153...

Iron deficiency is prevalent in children and infants worldwide. Zinc deficiency may be prevalent, but data are lacking. Both iron and zinc deficiency negatively affect growth and psychomotor development. Combined iron and zinc supplementation might be beneficial, but the potential interactions need to be verified. In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial using 2 x 2 factorial design, 609 Thai ...

OBJECTIVE : To determine the impact of contaminant iron and geophagy on iron intake and status of persons living in developing countries. DESIGN : Literature for review was identified by searching Medline and Agricola, from appropriate other texts and from three reports from the Opportunities for Micronutrient Interventions (OMNI) Project of USAID. SETTING : The dietary intake of iron by pe...