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Int J Sports Med
DOI: 10.1055/a-2421-6891
Physiology & Biochemistry

Link Between Ferritin, Vitamin D, Performance, and Eating Attitudes in Female Athletes

Yuka Tsukahara
1   Graduate School of Sports Science, Waseda University – Tokorozawa Campus, Tokorozawa, Japan (Ringgold ID: RIN117107)
2   Department of Sports Medicine, Tokyo Women's College of Physical Education, Tokyo, Japan
3   Department of Family and Community Medicine, Caver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA (Ringgold ID: RIN38334)
,
Suguru Torii
4   Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
,
Yukiko Taniguchi
5   Department of Orthopedics, Kyoto Daini Sekijuji Byoin, Kyoto, Japan (Ringgold ID: RIN38334)
,
Torao Kusakabe
6   Orthopedic Surgery, Kyoto Daini Red-Cross Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
,
Hideki Murakami
7   Department of Orthopedics, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences and Medical School, Nagoya, Japan (Ringgold ID: RIN38386)
,
Fumihiro Yamasawa
8   Marubeni Clinic, Marubeni Corp, Chiyoda-ku, Japan (Ringgold ID: RIN217302)
,
Takao Akama
4   Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
› Author AffiliationsSupported by: Japan Sports Agency
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ABSTRACT

Iron and vitamin D deficiencies can affect athletes’ health and performance. However, the epidemiology and associated risk factors remain unclear. Forty-three elite female athletics athletes (20.2±1.9 years) were included. A survey regarding the training schedule and Eating Attitudes Test-26, body composition, bone mineral density, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and ferritin levels were assessed. Mean serum 25(OH)D and ferritin levels were 25.2±5.5 ng/mL and 29.0±13.2 ng/mL, respectively, and 83.7% and 41.9% of athletes had vitamin D and ferritin insufficiency, respectively. Serum 25(OH)D level was negatively correlated with the number of rest days per week (Coefficient,−6.19; 95% confidence interval [CI],−9.82–−2.57; p=0.002), and serum ferritin level was negatively correlated with body mass index (Coefficient,−3.87; 95% CI,−7.57–−0.16; p=0.041). Performance levels were positively correlated with serum vitamin D levels (Coefficients, 7.25; 95% CI, 0.25–14.25; p=0.043) and negatively correlated with EAT-26 scores (Coefficient,−7.30; 95% CI,−12.61–−1.98; p=0.009) and body fat percentage (Coefficient,−13.26; 95% CI,−24.66–−1.86; p=0.025). Vitamin D and ferritin insufficiencies are prevalent among Japanese female athletics athletes. Serum vitamin D level was related to performance level.

Keywords

athletics - anemia - iron-deficiency


Publication History

Received: 24 September 2024

Accepted after revision: 24 September 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
24 September 2024

Article published online:
14 January 2025

© 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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