Prevalence and Risk Factors of Iron Deficiency 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. Also, female athletes are considered to be at a greater risk of iron disturbance, which may lead to iron deficiency anemia or latent iron deficiency. Therefore, the study aimed to determine the frequency of iron deficiency in female athletes in Sulaymaniyah city. A total of 140 healthy habitual female athletes were screened for eligibility. One hundred and twenty were eligible and participated in the current study. Sampling was collected based on a stratified sampling method. Blood samples were taken from the participants in 23 Sports centers based on socioeconomic distribution. The parameters included complete blood counts (CBC), serum ferritin, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC). Of the participants, 25 (20.8%) had low ferritin levels (<10 ng/ml), indicating iron deficiency, while 95 (79.2%) had normal ferritin levels (10-291 ng/ml). Only 16 (13.3%) participants had been exercising for 6-12 years, and about half of them exhibited iron deficiency anemia. A significant difference was found in iron deficiency across exercise duration groups (P<0.05). No significant relationship was observed between menstrual patterns and iron deficiency (P>0.05), nor between BMI categories and iron deficiency (P=0.487). Despite 40% of athletes taking supplements, 25% remained iron-depleted, whereas only 15% of non-supplement users had iron deficiency. The high prevalence of iron deficiency, both with and without anemia, among female athletes highlight the urgent need for implementing regular screening programs. Such initiatives are essential to mitigate the negative effects of iron deficiency on overall health and athletic performance, ensuring that athletes receive timely intervention to maintain optimal iron status.