Anaemia, Iron Deficiency and Exercise: Extended Studies in Human Subjects

Abstract

Ventilation and cardiac frequency were measured during repeated treadmill exercise in 3 healthy subjects over 36 wk, before, during and after Fe-deficiency anemia was produced and after Fe treatment. The Hb and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate concentrations and the O2-binding (P50) were measured. There was an inverse relationship between the Hb concentrations and the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate concentrations and the P50 values. The mean cardiac frequencies during the 4th-10th min of exercise showed a negative correlation with the Hb concentrations in all 3 subjects, and the mean minute ventilations in 2 of them.