New research at the Australian Institute of Sport is focusing on the best way to test for suboptimal iron status and the findings will follow through to all people, even sports fanatics of the spectator variety. Sports scientists are honing a new, super sensitive blood test for iron status known as serum transferrin receptor.
Why is low iron a concern?
Constantly searching for ways to boost athletic performance, scientists have long been researching poor iron status and the fatigue factor, in both female and male sports people. When it comes to iron stores, fatigue can set in well before your tank runs dry and iron deficiency anaemia is diagnosed. Iron depletion can also result in increased recovery time, decreased immunity, cold like symptoms and depression.
Why are athletes at risk?
Along with being at risk of low iron intake from dietary imbalances, athletes undergoing vigorous training regimes or running sports, commonly experience increased iron losses due to foot strike haemolysis. Haemolysis, the breakdown of red blood cells and therefore iron loss, occurs at a faster rate than in sedentary people from the training stress on blood vessels when feet are constantly “striking” or in contact with hard surfaces.
Why is a sensitive test required?
Scientists have found it difficult to set “ideal” blood testing levels for the markers of iron status, as they’re most interested in detecting impaired performance when iron stores are slightly depleted, not by the time true iron deficiency anaemia has occurred. Iron depletion may be present when regular blood tests for iron are normal. Recently published data in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine is revealing that this new super sensitive iron test could pick up 66% of athletes with iron depletion that would have been missed with traditional blood tests.
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