Iron status in runners of various running specialties.

The blood iron status of 44 male runners of various running specialties (18 sprinters, 13 middle- and 13 long-distance runners) is evaluated by measuring serum ferritin (SF), serum iron (Si), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), hematocrit (Ht), red blood cells content (RBC) and haptoglobin concentration (Hp). The results of these analyses (except Hp) are compared to those obtained in sedentary male subjects (control group) of the same mean age. Mean SF, SI, Hb and Ht measured in athletes are significantly lower than in control group. The remarkably low Hp values obtained in athletes suggests the occurrence of hemolysis. Using unpaired t test, it appears that the blood iron status of these runners does not depend on their running specialty.