Zinc status relates to hematological deficits in women endurance runners.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated zinc (Zn) status and effect of Zn supplementation in relation to iron deficiency anemia in Japanese female endurance runners in an attempt to define the role of Zn in hematologic abnormalities.

METHODS

After estimating zinc status based on total body zinc clearance (ClZn), 21 women runners were divided into two groups: one group was of normal Zn status (group A), and the other was a Zn deficient group (group B). We then compared the hematological status in both groups, before and after iron or iron plus Zn supplementation.

RESULTS

Number of red blood cells (RBC), serum concentrations of hemoglobin (Hb), iron and total protein in Group A were significantly higher than those in Group B, while serum Zn levels were similar in both groups. There was a significantly positive correlation between ClZn and total protein, and hemoglobin in all subjects. After combined treatment with ferrous citrate and zinc sulfate, the concentrations of total protein, iron, RBC, and Hb were significantly increased in the four Zn deficient runners.

CONCLUSION

Zn status to some extent can account for hematological abnormalities in female endurance runners.