Improving the Iron Status of Athletes With Pre-, Pro- and Synbiotics

The following Specific Aims will help us to answer this research question: To screen the iron status of athletes at the beginning of training season and determine the prevalence of anemia and iron depletion on our NCAA Division III campus. To determine the differences in Fe uptake with consumption of a synbiotic, prebiotic, and placebo supplements along with low-dose Fe supplementation in ID athletes. To determine the differences in the microbiome with consumption of a synbiotic, prebiotic, and placebo supplements along with low-dose Fe supplementation in ID female athletes. This aim will help us mechanism behind change in iron status with a functional fiber (e.g. synbiotic supplementation).

This data is essential to advance our understanding of how Fe uptake in active persons can be enhanced by functional fiber supplementation, as well as by REAL foods containing functional fibers, which could help ameliorate ID not only for athletes here in the US but for people around the globe.

The design is a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial, which will use each participant as her/his own control, in addition to a placebo treatment being administered in a counter-balanced order with the other treatments.

Participants: King's is a Division III College and currently has >85 eligible female athletes on the rosters of a variety of competitive sports teams. During a recent RCT, about 30 active women were screened and >30% were ID (1). For the proposed study, given the effect size observed in previous work (6), we need n=10 to complete the 18-week randomized crossover trial (e.g. so recruiting n=13 would allow for a "normal" 20% attrition rate during the trial due to injuries, illnesses, etc).

Iron Status Screening: Athletes from King's will be asked to volunteer via recruitment email. To address Aim 1, at baseline (and after NCAA health clearance), athletes will have their iron status screened via venous blood sample at the beginning of their season in the Human Performance Lab in the Alley Center (Complete Blood Count, which includes Hgb); Serum ferritin; C-Reactive Protein for inflammation adjustment of ferritin). Anthropometrics and body composition will be measured and health, dietary and training information will also be collected. Standard demographic information, and medical history will be self-reported by each participant using computer-based questionnaires. All athletes with normal iron status (Hgb >12.0 g/dL AND sFer>30.0 µg/L) will be given their iron status results and offered a Nutrition Consultation by a MS Nutrition Student under the supervision of the PI. Athletes will not be eligible to participate in the study if pregnant, wishing to become pregnant, breastfeeding, having a condition or taking medication impacting Fe status, or not healthy enough to train/participate in their sport.