Tired of being tired?
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has published research carried out on 219 female soldiers taking part in 8 weeks of basic combat training. Half the group were given an iron supplement and half were given a placebo. Those volunteers reporting to the basic combat training with iron deficiency anaemia had improved vigour scores on the Profile of Mood States and faster running time at the end of the training.
The authors conclude that iron supplementation may prove beneficial for mood and physical performance for female soldiers during the training period, and that future efforts should identify and treat female soldiers or athletes who begin training regimens with iron deficiency or iron deficiency anaemia (1).
Five to twelve per cent of otherwise healthy pre-menopausal women suffer from iron deficiency anaemia (2), therefore it makes sense to look at identifying and treating this condition in the wider public.
No better iron tonic than > FLORADIX to maintain your feel-good factor. Keep on running, soldier!
(1) McClung JP et al. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of iron supplementation in female soldiers during military training: effects on iron status, physical performance, and mood. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2009; 90: 1-8.
(2) World Health Organisation. The prevention of anaemia in women: a tabulation of available information, 2nd Ed. Geneva: WHO 1992. Looker AC et al. JAMA 1997; 277: 973-6.