How Can Endurance Training Affect Iron Levels?

Question

Training for long periods and preparing for competitions certainly places emphasis on one’s physical prowess, but can it truly come with drawbacks? I have an acquaintance who is usually on a very strict diet which makes a heavy emphasis on endurance training and as a consequence, he loses iron in his body. How does iron loss happens through endurance training?

Answer 1

Endurance training sometimes leads to the depletion of iron stores since sweat, urine, and the gastrointestinal tract increase iron losses. Compared to a sedentary person, athletes sweat more as well and this too can contribute to loss of iron. Heavy training can predispose blood loss within the gastrointestinal tract and decrease lifespan amongst red blood cells thus promoting iron losses. As a result, the Fe needs of the endurance athlete are much greater as compared to the average.