Investigation of decreased hemoglobin levels in high school female athletes

Abstract

(Objective) To examine the status of anemia and iron deficiency in high school female athletes based on the results of medical checkups of designated athletes who excelled in sports in Oita Prefecture.

(Methods) We examined the results of blood tests of 162 high school female athletes, divided into quartiles based on their hemoglobin levels.

(Results) The mean and the median hemoglobin levels were both 12.9 g/dl, which is lower than the average for females in general. Ferritin and transferrin saturation were significantly lower in the first quartile group by hemoglobin volume than in the fourth quartile group. There were no significant differences in the creatinine and total testosterone levels, but the decrease in cholinesterase and increase in the urea nitrogen/creatinine ratio were significant.

(Conclusion) In the general population of female high school students, skeletal muscle does not increase, but in athletes, skeletal muscle increases, suggesting that iron deficiency is caused by the increase in tissue iron contained in skeletal muscle. However, the effect of a low energy intake and iron loss due to menstrual bleeding were considered as the cause of the decrease in hemoglobin.