Iron is a vital micronutrient for athletes, especially cyclists and endurance athletes. Crucial for oxygen transport and energy production, iron plays a key role in supporting muscular metabolism and endurance, both of which are essential for sustaining peak performance.
However, iron deficiency is a common issue among athletes, leading to negative effects on endurance, strength and recovery.
This article will explore the importance of adequate iron intake and the impact of iron deficiency on cycling performance.
Iron deficiency: the impact on sports performance
Iron deficiency, or sideropenia, is one of the most common nutritional issues faced by endurance athletes in sports like running, cycling and triathlon.
This deficiency can lead to a reduction in haemoglobin and myoglobin levels, impairing the muscles’ ability to receive oxygen and lowering aerobic capacity. Common symptoms include fatigue, decreased endurance, slower recovery and, in severe cases, sideropenic anaemia.
For athletes, iron deficiency is often the result of blood loss due to muscle micro-tears, impact haemolysis, excessive sweating and inadequate dietary intake.
Certain groups are more susceptible to sideropenia, including female athletes due to their menstrual cycle, athletes who follow vegan, vegetarian, or low-meat diets, and generally, those on prolonged low-calorie diets.
Prevention and management of iron deficiency in athletes
To prevent a drop in performance due to iron deficiency, athletes should adopt targeted strategies:
- Iron-rich diet: focus on heme iron sources (such as red meat, fish and liver) and combine non-heme iron (found in pulses and green leafy vegetables) with vitamin C-rich foods to boost absorption.
- Limit absorption inhibitors: excessive intake of coffee, tea, dairy products and whole grains can reduce iron bioavailability.
- Monitoring iron levels: Regularly check ferritin and haemoglobin levels to catch any deficiency early.
- Targeted supplementation: For athletes with increased iron needs or reduced dietary intake, iron supplements can help address deficiencies effectively.
Sucrosomial® Iron: effective absorption, better tolerability
One of the major challenges with iron supplementation is the poor gastrointestinal tolerability of traditional iron salts, which often come with unpleasant side effects like a metallic taste, a feeling of fullness in the stomach, and irritation of the mucous membranes.
To address this, PharmaNutra has developed a unique and innovative delivery system using Sucrosomial® Technology, whereby the iron is encapsulated in a specialised structure called the Sucrosome®, made up of a matrix of phospholipids and saccharic acid esters (Sucrester®).
This unique structure protects the iron molecules from the acidic environment of the stomach, where gastric conditions can interfere with absorption. Thanks to this patented formulation, Sucrosomial® Iron (Sideral® r.m.) is absorbed directly in the intestine, bypassing gastric irritation and ensuring optimal bioavailability.
This approach not only enhances the absorption of iron but also improves the tolerability of the product, significantly reducing unwanted effects, even with prolonged use.
Supporting iron reserves with Iron Race
Sucrosomial® Iron (Sideral® r.m.) is the cornerstone of Iron Race, a supplement in the Cetilar® Nutrition range designed to enhance athletes’ performance without the undesirable side effects typically associated with traditional iron supplements.
With 30 mg of Sucrosomial® Iron per capsule, Iron Race helps boost the iron reserves of athletes who face increased physiological demands due to their sport.
Enriched with copper, vitamins C, B2, B6, B12 and folic acid, Iron Race contributes to normal formation of red blood cells, helps protect cells from oxidative stress, and strengthens the immune system, essential benefits for cyclist.
Bibliography
- Clenin G. et al; Iron deficiency in sports – definition, influence on performance and therapy. Swiss Med. Wkly. 2015
- Clenin G., Cordes M., Huber A., Schumacher Y.O., Noack P., Scales J., Kriemler S. Iron deficiency in sports—Definition, influence on performance and therapy. Swiss Med. Wkly. 2015;145:w14196. doi: 10.4414/smw.2015.14196.
- Gómez-Ramírez, E. Brilli, G. Tarantino, M. Muñoz. Sucrosomial® Iron: A New Generation Iron for Improving Oral Supplementation. Pharmaceuticals (Basel).2018 Oct 4;11(4):97.
- https://www.sideral.it/tecnologia-sucrosomiale/ferro-sucrosomiale/
- https://www.pharmanutra.it/it/a-new-technology-to-counter-iron-deficiency/
