Iron Supplements
Iron Supplements
Anyone know much about Iron supplementation? I've read that runners take iron and run a risk of becoming iron deficient. Thoughts? Experiences?
Re: Iron Supplements
Unless you're a vegetarian/vegan and/or already are borderline iron deficient (simple blood test), there's really no reason to bother with supplements. The iron in supplements is not heme iron, meaning only a fraction of the supplement is absorbed into the bloodstream.
Stick with meat and legumes/beans. Diet is always the better answer. You really have no reason to supplement unless blood tests indicate an iron deficiency. Even people that are slightly iron deficient don't have serious issues with anemia. I've always tested low for iron and have never had issues related to anemia.
Not sure why runners would need it - they do see a lot more damage to their muscles through the pounding impact of the sport so perhaps that plays a role.
Stick with meat and legumes/beans. Diet is always the better answer. You really have no reason to supplement unless blood tests indicate an iron deficiency. Even people that are slightly iron deficient don't have serious issues with anemia. I've always tested low for iron and have never had issues related to anemia.
Not sure why runners would need it - they do see a lot more damage to their muscles through the pounding impact of the sport so perhaps that plays a role.
Re: Iron Supplements
Do a web search for "footstrike hemolysis". In short, compression of runners' feet on impact causes mechanical destruction of red blood cells.bloomp wrote:Not sure why runners would need it - they do see a lot more damage to their muscles through the pounding impact of the sport so perhaps that plays a role.
Re: Iron Supplements
Figured it was something to do with that - thanks for the technical term.