Assessment of Iron Status Among Female Athletes in Sulaymaniyah District/ Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Iron deficiency is frequent in female athletes due to greater turnover of red blood cells during exercise. Negative iron balance associated with inadequate dietary iron intake, menstruation, and other factors such as hemolysis, sweating, and exercise-induced acute inflammation are also contributing factors. Therefore, female athletes are considered to be at a greater risk of iron disturbance, which may lead to iron deficiency anemia or latent iron deficiency.