Abstract
To obtain basic data to plan nutritional support for individuals with anemia, a total of 42 female students from university volleyball, tennis, and karate clubs were evaluated regarding their nutrient and food-group intakes and blood biochemical parameters. The students were classified into three groups on the basis of their serum ferritin levels (Low, Middle, and High). In all three groups, nutrient intakes were below adequate levels for all nutrients except copper, and significantly lower cryptoxanthin and vitamin C intakes were observed in the Low group. All blood biochemical parameters, except for iron saturation, were within normal ranges in these three groups, although significantly lower hemoglobin and serum iron levels and significantly higher total and unsaturated iron-binding capacity levels were noted in the Low group. Taken together, although anemia was absent in these students, the Low group was found to have pre-latent iron deficiency. This may be partly due to reduced non-heme iron absorption associated with decreased cryptoxanthin and vitamin C intakes, and an insufficient supply of non-heme iron.
