Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Biochemically Defined Moderate to Severely Anemic patients in a Tertiary Care Centre

Introduction: Anemia due to iron deficiency and chronic diseases is common occurrence in developing country like Nepal, the latter seen in patients with various inflammatory, autoimmune, and malignant disorders . The Intensive method of marrow iron examination, which this study has employed, provides clinically useful iron status classification in cases of functional iron deficiency. The aim of the study is to find out the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in biochemically defined moderate to severe anemic patients in tertiary care center. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done in 43 patients who underwent bone marrow aspiration for evaluation of any cause and had moderate to severe anemia at the same time over a period of one year from Nov 2015 to 2016. Ethical clearance was obtained from Institutional Review Committee. The bone marrow iron stores were assessed by“intensive method” apart from the routinely used Gale’s method. Data was collected and entry were done in Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 24. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data. Results: The intensive grading system demonstrated normal marrow iron store in 13 (30.2%), depleted iron stores in 3 (7%), functional iron deficiency in 14 (32.6%), and combined deficiency in 13 (30.2%) patients. Mean log ferritin concentration was lower in patients with depleted iron stores (2.2μg/l) than in those with normal (2.7μg/l), and functional iron deficiency (2.4μg/l). The mean log ferritin in combined deficiency was lower than the mean log ferritin concentration in iron store deficiency (1.9μg/l). Conclusions: The prevalence of functional iron deficiency anemia was greatest when the intensive method for assessment of bone marrow iron was used, thus differentiating four different iron status categories, including functional iron deficiency, from actual iron store deficiency, avoiding unnecessary iron supplementation in the former group.

Download Full-text

Relationship Between Iron Indices and Iron Responsiveness Following IV Ferumoxytol or Oral Iron In Patients with CKD Not on Dialysis

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v116.21.5149.5149 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 116 (21) ◽

pp. 5149-5149

Author(s):

John Adamson ◽

Zhu Li ◽

Paul Miller ◽

Annamaria Kausz

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Serum Ferritin ◽

Iron Status ◽

Oral Iron ◽

Iron Therapy ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Functional Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Stores ◽

Iv Iron ◽

Definition Of

Abstract Abstract 5149 BACKGROUND Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is associated with reduced physical functioning, cardiovascular disease, and poor quality of life. The measurement of body iron stores is essential to the management of IDA, and the indices most commonly used to assess iron status are transferrin saturation (TSAT) and serum ferritin. Unfortunately, serum ferritin is not a reliable indicator of iron status, particularly in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), because it is an acute phase reactant and may be elevated in patients with iron deficiency in the presence of inflammation. Recent clinical trials have shown that patients with iron indices above a strict definition of iron deficiency (TSAT >15%, serum ferritin >100 ng/mL), do have a significant increase in hemoglobin (Hgb) when treated with iron. These results are consistent with recent changes to the National Cancer Comprehensive Network (NCCN) guidelines, which have expanded the definition of functional iron deficiency (relative iron deficiency) to include a serum ferritin <800 ng/mL; previously, the serum ferritin threshold was <300 ng/mL. Additionally, for patients who meet this expanded definition of functional iron deficiency (TSAT <20%, ferritin <800 ng/mL), it is now recommended that iron replacement therapy be considered in addition to erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) therapy. Ferumoxytol (Feraheme®) Injection, a novel IV iron therapeutic agent, is indicated for the treatment of IDA in adult patients with CKD. Ferumoxytol is composed of an iron oxide with a unique carbohydrate coating (polyglucose sorbitol carboxymethylether), is isotonic, has a neutral pH, and evidence of lower free iron than other IV irons. Ferumoxytol is administered as two IV injections of 510 mg (17 mL) 3 to 8 days apart for a total cumulative dose of 1.02 g; each IV injection can be administered at a rate up to 1 mL/sec, allowing for administration of a 510 mg dose in less than 1 minute. METHODS Data were combined from 2 identically designed and executed Phase III randomized, active-controlled, open-label studies conducted in 606 patients with CKD stages 1–5 not on dialysis. Patients were randomly assigned in a 3:1 ratio to receive a course of either 1.02 g IV ferumoxytol (n=453) administered as 2 doses of 510 mg each within 5±3 days or 200 mg of oral elemental iron (n=153) daily for 21 days. The main IDA inclusion criteria included a Hgb ≤11.0 g/dL, TSAT ≤30%, and serum ferritin ≤600 ng/mL. The mean baseline Hgb was approximately 10 g/dL, and ESAs were use by approximately 40% of patients. To further evaluate the relationship between baseline markers of iron stores and response to iron therapy, data from these trials were summarized by baseline TSAT and serum ferritin levels. RESULTS Overall, results from these two pooled trials show that ferumoxytol resulted in a statistically significant greater mean increase in Hgb relative to oral iron. When evaluated across the baseline iron indices examined, statistically significant (p<0.05) increases in Hgb at Day 35 were observed following ferumoxytol administration, even for subjects with baseline iron indices above levels traditionally used to define iron deficiency. Additionally, at each level of baseline iron indices, ferumoxytol produced a larger change in Hgb relative to oral iron. These data suggest that patients with CKD not on dialysis with a wide range of iron indices at baseline respond to IV iron therapy with an increase in Hgb. Additionally, ferumoxytol consistently resulted in larger increases in Hgb relative to oral iron across all levels of baseline iron indices examined. Disclosures: Adamson: VA Medical Center MC 111E: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Li:AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Miller:AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Kausz:AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment.

Download Full-text

Iron Deficiency Anemia in Cancer Patients

Oncology & Hematology Review (US) ◽

10.17925/ohr.2012.08.2.74 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 08 (02) ◽

pp. 74

Author(s):

Mark Janis ◽

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Iron Deficiency Anemia ◽

Iron Transport ◽

The Body ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Functional Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Stores ◽

Iv Iron ◽

Absolute Iron Deficiency

Anemia is highly prevalent, affecting approximately 40 % of cancer patients, and results in a significant decrease in health-related quality of life while also being associated with shorter cancer survival times. A recent survey of 15,000 cancer patients in Europe found that 39 % were anemic at the time of enrolment. In addition, anemia is a recognized complication of myelosuppressive chemotherapy, and it has been estimated that, in the US, around 1.3 million cancer patients who are not anemic at the time of diagnosis will develop anemia during the course of their disease. The etiology of anemia in cancer patients is variable and often multifactorial, and may be the result of an absolute or a functional iron deficiency. Cancer produces an enhanced inflammatory state within the bodycausing hepcidin levels to increase and erythropoietin production to decreaseand results in a reduction in erythropoiesis due to impaired iron transport. This type of anemia is known as functional iron deficiency, where the body has adequate iron stores but there are problems with mobilization and transport of the iron. Absolute iron deficiency is when both iron stores and iron transport are low. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) treatment guidelines for cancer-related anemia recommend intravenous (IV) iron products alone for iron repletion in cancer patients with absolute iron deficiency, and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in combination with IV iron in cancer patients (currently undergoing palliative chemotherapy) with functional iron deficiency. Although IV iron has been demonstrated to enhance the hematopoietic response to ESA therapy, the use of supplemental iron has not yet been optimized in oncology. Here we discuss the significance of iron deficiency anemia in cancer patients and the need to implement tools to properly diagnose this condition, and we provide an overview of the management strategies and recommendations for patients with iron deficiency anemia as outlined in the NCCN guidelines.

Download Full-text

Increased plasma transferrin, altered body iron distribution, and microcytic hypochromic anemia in ferrochelatase-deficient mice

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2006-04-014142 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 109 (2) ◽

pp. 811-818 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Saïd Lyoumi ◽

Marie Abitbol ◽

Valérie Andrieu ◽

Dominique Henin ◽

Elodie Robert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Status ◽

Hypochromic Anemia ◽

Receptor Expression ◽

Mutant Mice ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Peripheral Tissues ◽

Iron Distribution ◽

Iron Stores

Abstract Patients with deficiency in ferrochelatase (FECH), the last enzyme of the heme biosynthetic pathway, experience a painful type of skin photosensitivity called erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), which is caused by the excessive production of protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) by erythrocytes. Controversial results have been reported regarding hematologic status and iron status of patients with EPP. We thoroughly explored these parameters in Fechm1Pas mutant mice of 3 different genetic backgrounds. FECH deficiency induced microcytic hypochromic anemia without ringed sideroblasts, little or no hemolysis, and no erythroid hyperplasia. Serum iron, ferritin, hepcidin mRNA, and Dcytb levels were normal. The homozygous Fechm1Pas mutant involved no tissue iron deficiency but showed a clear-cut redistribution of iron stores from peripheral tissues to the spleen, with a concomitant 2- to 3-fold increase in transferrin expression at the mRNA and the protein levels. Erythrocyte PPIX levels strongly correlated with serum transferrin levels. At all stages of differentiation in our study, transferrin receptor expression in bone marrow erythroid cells in Fechm1Pas was normal in mutant mice but not in patients with iron-deficiency anemia. Based on these observations, we suggest that oral iron therapy is not the therapy of choice for patients with EPP and that the PPIX–liver transferrin pathway plays a role in the orchestration of iron distribution between peripheral iron stores, the spleen, and the bone marrow.

Download Full-text

Effect of Maternal Iron Deficiency Anemia on the Iron Store of Newborns in Ethiopia

Anemia ◽

10.1155/2015/808204 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Betelihem Terefe ◽

Asaye Birhanu ◽

Paulos Nigussie ◽

Aster Tsegaye

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Deficiency Anemia ◽

Serum Ferritin ◽

Complete Blood Count ◽

Iron Status ◽

Hemoglobin Concentration ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Iron Store ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Iron Deficient

Iron deficiency anemia among pregnant women is a widespread problem in developing countries including Ethiopia, though its influence on neonatal iron status was inconsistently reported in literature. This cross-sectional study was conducted to compare hematologic profiles and iron status of newborns from mothers with different anemia status and determine correlation between maternal and neonatal hematologic profiles and iron status in Ethiopian context. We included 89 mothers and their respective newborns and performed complete blood count and assessed serum ferritin and C-reactive protein levels from blood samples collected from study participants. Maternal median hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels were 12.2 g/dL and 47.0 ng/mL, respectively. The median hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels for the newborns were 16.2 g/dL and 187.6 ng/mL, respectively. The mothers were classified into two groups based on hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels as iron deficient anemic (IDA) and nonanemic (NA) and newborns of IDA mothers had significantly lower levels of serum ferritin (P=0.017) and hemoglobin concentration (P=0.024). Besides, newborns’ ferritin and hemoglobin levels showed significant correlation with maternal hemoglobin (P=0.018;P=0.039) and ferritin (P=0.000;P=0.008) levels. We concluded that maternal IDA may have an effect on the iron stores of newborns.

Download Full-text

A Novel Parameter for the Diagnosis of Iron Deficiency: The Transferrin/Albumin Ratio.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v108.11.3731.3731 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 108 (11) ◽

pp. 3731-3731

Author(s):

Laurence Pieroni ◽

Claude Jardel ◽

Helene Merle-Beral ◽

Zahia Azgui ◽

Sylvie Baudet ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Chronic Disease ◽

Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Status ◽

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin ◽

Operating Characteristics ◽

Iron Depletion ◽

Ferritin Concentration ◽

Albumin Ratio ◽

Iron Stores

Abstract Iron deficiency (ID) is generally easily diagnosed by a serum ferritin concentration less than 12 μg/L. However, in patients with concomitant pathologies, sensitivity of ferritin for diagnosing ID is low, since inflammation or liver disease can lead to normal or increased ferritin values, even when iron deficiency. In this study, we propose a new marker for diagnosing ID in patients with chronic disease: the Transferrin/Albumin ratio (Tf/A ratio). Indeed, the synthesis and the elimination of albumin and transferrin are regulated by similar processes, excepted in ID. In the latter, the synthesis of transferrin is stimulated, whereas that of albumin is not. Therefore, the Tranferrin/Albumin ratio increases in case of ID, even when transferrin values are within the normal range. To determine the accuracy of this novel parameter, we studied 75 patients with chronic disease who were submitted to bone marrow aspirates and iron staining. Iron stores depletion was defined by less than 10% sideroblasts, without extra-cellular iron nor siderocytes. Blood samples were routinely undertaken at the time of the medullar sampling for determination of hematological and biochemical parameters. Iron status including ferritin, Tranferrin Saturation (TfSat), soluble Transferrin Receptor (sTfR), sTfR/log ferritin and Tf/A ratio, was determined. The diagnostic accuracy of the Tf/A ratio was compared to previously described parameters of iron status that we cited above. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves were built to determine the best cut-off values for the prediction of iron deficiency. According to the Perls’ reaction, 25 of the 75 patients (33%) had depleted iron stores and 50 had normal or increased iron stores. Sixteen iron-depleted patients (67%) had anemia. Mann and Whitney U test showed that parameters significantly associated with ID were: Tf, Tf/A ratio, ferritin, TfSat, sTfR, sTfR/log ferritin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, red blood cell and reticulocyte counts. In a multivariate analysis, the only significant, independent predictor of iron depletion was the Tf/A ratio (r = 0.637, p < 0.005). The sensitivity/specificity of Tf/A ratio at a cut-off point of 6.4% as given by ROC curve were 80%/88%. In conclusion, the Tf/A ratio is useful in the detection of iron depletion in patients with chronic disease and could dispense with bone marrow aspirate and Perls’ reaction in more than 80% of cases.

Download Full-text

Anemia and Iron Deficiency in Strenuously Trained Adolescents.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v110.11.961.961 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 110 (11) ◽

pp. 961-961

Author(s):

Drorit Merkel ◽

Michael Huerta ◽

Itamar Grotto ◽

Eliezer A. Rachmilewitz ◽

Eitan Fibach ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Status ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Iron Store ◽

Ferritin Concentration ◽

Paired Samples ◽

Store Depletion ◽

Iron Deficient ◽

New Recruits

Abstract Background: Healthy soldiers serving in combat units have a higher prevalence of anemia than age- and sex-matched civilians. This may be a “pseudo-anemia” caused by the hemodilution typical among training athletes, or a “true anemia” due to reduced total body iron stores. Objective: To investigate the incidence of iron-deficiency anemia in recruits to the Israel Defence Forces during their first 6 months of intense combat training. This is a follow-up study to previous publication of measured values on induction. Methods: Blood was collected from new recruits to an elite infantry unit before training. After 6 months, 153 paired samples were collected from the initial group. Total blood count and serum iron, transferrin and ferritin were measured at both time points. Soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) was measured in 119 of the paired samples, and sTfR/log ferritin ratio was calculated. Results: At recruitment, mean hemoglobin concentration was 14.7±0.9 g/dL (range 11.5–16.8). Iron-transferrin saturation was 34.1±13.6%, and mean ferritin concentration was 53.6±33.2 ng/mL. Twenty-seven participants (17.6%) were anemic (Hb<14g/dL), and 14.9% were iron-deficient (ferritin level <22 mg/dL). At the end of the follow-up period, 50.3% of the soldiers examined were anemic, and 27.3% had signs of iron-store depletion. Analysis of the paired samples showed an average reduction of 0.83 g/dL in hemoglobin level, and of 9.8mg/dL in ferritin levels (p<0.001 for both). sTfR increased slightly from 1.9 to 2.1mg/dL (p<0.003) among the recruits who became anemic during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Nearly half the new recruits studied endure mild anemia after the first 6 months of training. Iron store depletion was observed among 24.5% of the cohort after 6 months, as opposed to 15% at recruitment. Overall, these changes were not accompanied by a significant increase in sTfR, but among the subset of anemic soldiers, there was a slight increase in this index. From the iron status analyses it can be concluded that in half the cases, the observed new-onset anemia was attributable to iron deficiency, and in the remainder, to hemodilution. The high incidence of iron deficiency in young healthy recruits is an important issue. The therapeutic implications of these findings require further evaluation.

Download Full-text

New diagnostic tools for delineating iron status

Hematology ◽

10.1182/hematology.2019000035 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 (1) ◽

pp. 327-336 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Yelena Z. Ginzburg

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Deficiency Anemia ◽

Iron Metabolism ◽

Iron Status ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Diagnostic Tools ◽

Erythroid Precursor ◽

Metabolism Regulation ◽

Iron Sequestration

Abstract Recent advances in our understanding of iron metabolism regulation and crosstalk with erythropoiesis have provided insight into the pathophysiology of multiple disease conditions. For instance, the peptide hormone hepcidin is central to the regulation of iron metabolism. Its effect on cellular iron concentration involves binding ferroportin, the main iron export protein, resulting in its internalization and degradation and leading to iron sequestration within ferroportin-expressing cells. Furthermore, hepcidin regulation by erythropoiesis is attributed in large part to a bone marrow–derived hormone erythroferrone. Erythroferrone-induced hepcidin suppression in diseases of expanded hematopoiesis results in iron overload. Conversely, diseases, such as iron refractory iron deficiency anemia and anemia of chronic inflammation, are characterized by aberrantly increased hepcidin, resulting in iron sequestration and decreased circulating iron and eventually leading to iron-restricted erythropoiesis. Lastly, because iron functions in concert with erythropoietin to promote erythroid precursor survival, proliferation, and differentiation, iron deficiency anemia is a consequence not only of decreased hemoglobin synthesis in each cell but also, a decrease in erythropoietin responsiveness in the bone marrow. How to translate this new information to the clinical setting has not been fully elucidated. The purpose of this manuscript is to summarize current standard tools for identifying iron deficiency in anemic patients; explore the tools and context for evaluating novel markers, such as hepcidin, erythroferrone, and markers of the iron restriction response; and assess available evidence for how their use could increase our understanding of health outcomes in clinically challenging cases.

Download Full-text

Iron Deficiency Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease

Acta Haematologica ◽

10.1159/000496492 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 142 (1) ◽

pp. 44-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Anat Gafter-Gvili ◽

Amir Schechter ◽

Benaya Rozen-Zvi

Keyword(s):

Chronic Kidney Disease ◽

Kidney Disease ◽

Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Deficiency Anemia ◽

Iron Supplementation ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Functional Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Stores ◽

Ckd Stage ◽

Absolute Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency anemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD patients suffer from both absolute and functional iron deficiency. Absolute iron deficiency is defined by severely reduced or absent iron stores, while functional iron deficiency is defined by adequate iron stores but insufficient iron availability for incorporation into erythroid precursors. This is due to increased levels of hepcidin. Anemia in CKD is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The association between anemia and mortality may be related to the severity of anemia. All CKD patients should be screened for anemia during the initial evaluation for CKD. Criteria used to define iron deficiency are different among CKD compared to normal renal function. Among CKD patients, absolute iron deficiency is defined when the transferrin saturation (TSAT) is ≤20% and the serum ferritin concentration is ≤100 ng/mL among predialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients or ≤200 ng/mL among hemodialysis patients. Functional iron deficiency, also known as iron-restricted erythropoiesis, is characterized by TSAT ≤20% and elevated ferritin levels. Iron supplementation is recommended for all CKD patients with anemia. There is general agreement according to guidelines that intravenous (i.v.) iron supplementation is the preferred method for CKD patients on dialysis (CKD stage 5D) and either i.v. or oral iron is recommended for patients with CKD ND (CKD stages 3–5). In this review we discuss the evidence base for these recommendations.

Download Full-text

STATUS OF HbA1c;

The Professional Medical Journal ◽

10.29309/tpmj/2013.20.01.585 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 20 (01) ◽

pp. 054-059

Author(s):

NUDRAT ANWAR ZUBERI ◽

NAVEED AHSAN ◽

ALIYA JAFRI ◽

Tehseen Iqbal ◽

Tahira Parveen

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Blood Glucose ◽

Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Deficiency Anemia ◽

Serum Iron ◽

Iron Status ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Diabetic Patients ◽

Iron Deficient

Background: Glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] is a marker to identify the average plasma glucose level over past threemonths but it is also influenced by the iron deficiency status of an individual. Objective: Research is designed to assess the relationshipbetween HbA1c concentration and iron status among diabetic and non diabetic subjects. Design: Cross sectional comparative study.Setting: Tertiary Care Unit of Karachi, Pakistan. Period: Dec 2010 till June 2011. Material and methods: A total of 75 subjects of bothsexes were taken and divided into three groups. Fasting and random glucose levels, serum iron and TIBC were performed by enzymaticmethod while HbA1c was estimated by fast iron resin separation method and Complete blood count (CBC ) was done by Coulter.Statistical analysis: The data feeding and analysis was on computer package SPSS (Statistical Packages of Social Sciences) version16.0. the results were given in the mean and Standard Deviation (SD) and correlation ( r ) for quantitative data i.e. age, FBS, RBS, HbA1c,Serum Iron , Hb HCT, and TIBC. Using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with tukey test for comparison (Controls, Iron deficiency anemia withand without diabetes mellitus). In all statistical analysis only p < 0.01 will be considered significant. Results: HbA1c is a non-specificmarker of Diabetes mellitus in iron deficieny anemia patients. Thus it is reccomended that iron status of diabetic patients must beconsidered while interpreting results. This study showed significantly raised levels of Fasting blood glucose (FBS), random blood glucose(RBS) and HbA1c in diabetic anemic patients when compared to control and nondiabetic anemic subjects (p < 0.01) while total ironbinding capacity (TIBC) and HbA1c in nondiabetic anemic subjects were also significantly raised when compared to control (p < 0.01).Hemoglobin (Hb) , Hematocrit (HCT) and Serum Iron levels were significantly decreased in diabetic and nondiabetic anemic subjectswhen compared to control (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Our study depicted that while diagnosing Diabetes mellitus in iron deficient patientsone should be carefull as HbA1c is not a very reliable parameter to assess glycemic control in iron deficiency anemia patients.

Download Full-text

Prevalence of Iron Depletion and Anemia in Top-level Basketball Players

International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism ◽

10.1123/ijsnem.14.1.30 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 30-37 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Gal Dubnov ◽

Naama W. Constantini

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Deficiency Anemia ◽

Blood Count ◽

Complete Blood Count ◽

Iron Status ◽

Transferrin Saturation ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Iron Store ◽

Basketball Players ◽

Iron Depletion

Iron depletion, with or without anemia, may have a negative effect on physical and mental performance. Even with current recognition of the problem, its incidence among athletes remains high. Most studies describe iron status in endurance athletes. This study examined the prevalence of iron depletion and anemia among male and female top-level basketball players. Adolescents and adults (N = 103) from 8 national basketball teams were screened for anemia and iron stores status, which included a complete blood count and levels of plasma ferritin, transferrin, and serum iron. Iron depletion, defined by a ferritin level below 20 μg/L, was found among 22% of study participants (15% in males vs. 35% in females, p = .019). Anemia was found among 25% of athletes (18% in males vs. 38% in females, p = .028). Iron deficiency anemia, defined by the presence of anemia, ferritin levels below 12 μg/L, and transferrin saturation below 16%, was found among 7% of players (3% in males vs. 14% in females, p = .043). In summary, a high prevalence of iron depletion, anemia, and iron deficiency anemia was found among basketball players of both genders. We recommend screening ballgame players for blood count and iron store status, and providing nutritional counseling and iron supplementation when necessary.

Download Full-text