BACKGROUND Iron facilitates key biological functions underpinning sports performance, and up to 60% of female athletes experience iron deficiency. However, the effects of iron deficiency on sports performance in female athletes is unclear, as are the degree of benefits of iron supplementation (FeSup). This study characterizes the effects of iron deficiency and FeSup on sports performance in high-level female athletes. METHODS Searches of the electronic databases Medline, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, Scopus, and CINAHL were performed in July 2023. Studies were included that evaluated the effects of iron deficiency or FeSup on sports performance in high-level (maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) > 45 mL/kg/min, or trained > 5 h/week) iron deficient (ID) (serum ferritin (sFer) < 40 µg/L) female athletes. Studies were assessed using a modified Downs and Black Quality Assessment Checklist. RESULTS A total of 23 studies comprising 669 athletes (age range: 13-47 years) across 16 sports were included in the review. Iron deficiency negatively affects endurance performance by 3%-4%. However, endurance performance improved by 2%-20% when ID athletes were treated with 100 mg/day of elemental iron for up to 56 days via oral supplementation, or bi-daily via parenteral administration over 8-10 days. ID non-anemic athletes with low sFer stores may be predisposed to reduced maximal aerobic capacity. However, maximal aerobic capacity improved by 6%-15% following 16-100 mg/day of elemental iron for 36-126 days. Isokinetic strength and anaerobic power performance may be impeded (-23% to +4%) among ID athletes, but the effect of FeSup on anaerobic power varied markedly (-5% to +9%) following 100 mg/day of elemental iron over 42-56 days, or 100 mg of elemental iron bi-daily over 8-10 days. The quality of studies was moderate (77%), ranging from low (57%) to high (100%). Moststudies (n = 18) contained group sizes ≤ 20 athletes, thus limiting the likelihood of detecting significant effects (statistical power > 0.80). CONCLUSION High-level ID female athletes experience a negative impact on endurance performance, which can be improved by supplementing with ∼100 mg of elemental iron per day or bi-daily. The decrements in other performance parameters characterizing a range of sports coincide with the severity of iron deficiency.

中文翻译：

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女运动员的铁缺乏、补充剂和运动表现：系统评价。


背景 铁有助于支撑运动表现的关键生物功能，高达 60% 的女运动员缺铁。然而，缺铁对女运动员运动表现的影响尚不清楚，补铁 （FeSup） 的益处程度也不清楚。本研究描述了缺铁和 FeSup 对高水平女运动员运动表现的影响。方法 2023 年 7 月对电子数据库 Medline、SPORTDiscus、Web of Science、Scopus 和 CINAHL 进行了检索。纳入了评估缺铁或 FeSup 对高水平 （最大摄氧量 （VO2max） > 45 mL/kg/min，或训练 > 5 小时/周）缺铁 （ID） （血清铁蛋白 （sFer） < 40 μg/L） 运动表现影响的研究。使用改良的 Downs 和 Black 质量评估清单对研究进行评估。结果 本综述共纳入 23 项研究，涉及 16 个运动项目的 669 名运动员 （年龄范围： 13-47 岁）。缺铁会对耐力表现产生负面影响 3%-4%。然而，当 ID 运动员通过口服补充剂接受 100 毫克/天的元素铁治疗长达 56 天，或通过肠外给药每天两次治疗 8-10 天时，耐力表现提高了 2%-10%。sFer 储备低的 ID 非贫血运动员可能易患最大有氧能力降低。然而，在 6-15 毫克/天的元素铁持续 36-100 天后，最大有氧能力提高了 15%-126%。ID 运动员的等速力量和无氧能力表现可能会受到阻碍（-23% 至 +4%），但在 42-56 天内每天摄入 100 毫克元素铁后，FeSup 对厌氧能力的影响显着变化（-5% 至 +9%），或在 8-10 天内每天两次摄入 100 毫克元素铁。 研究质量为中等 （77%），从低 （57%） 到高 （100%） 不等。大多数研究 （n = 18） 包含的组规模≤ 20 名运动员，因此限制了检测到显著影响的可能性 （统计功效 > 0.80）。结论 高水平 ID 女运动员对耐力表现有负面影响，可以通过每天或每天补充 ∼100 毫克元素铁来改善。表征一系列运动的其他性能参数的下降与缺铁的严重程度相吻合。