Relationships between Iron Status and Selected Physical Fitness Components of South African Adolescents: The PAHL-Study

Article

Monyeki, Makama Andries, Veldsman, Tamrin, Tamrin, Ben, Sparks, Martinique, Moss, Sarah Johan, Pienaar, Cindy, Swanepoel, Mariette, Mala, Linda and Kruger, Herculina Salome. 2024. "Relationships between Iron Status and Selected Physical Fitness Components of South African Adolescents: The PAHL-Study ." Children. 11 (6). https://doi.org/10.3390/children11060659
Article Title

Relationships between Iron Status and Selected Physical Fitness Components of South African Adolescents: The PAHL-Study

ERA Journal ID212052
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsMonyeki, Makama Andries, Veldsman, Tamrin, Tamrin, Ben, Sparks, Martinique, Moss, Sarah Johan, Pienaar, Cindy, Swanepoel, Mariette, Mala, Linda and Kruger, Herculina Salome
Journal TitleChildren
Journal Citation11 (6)
Article Number659
Number of Pages12
Year2024
PublisherMDPI AG
Place of PublicationSwitzerland
ISSN2227-9067
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.3390/children11060659
Web Address (URL)https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/6/659
Abstract

Poor iron status is detrimental to physical and cognitive performance in adolescents. Due to
the limited studies investigating the association between iron status and physical fitness components
in adolescents from low- and middle-income countries, we aimed to determine the association of
iron status with selected physical fitness components in South African adolescents. A cross-sectional
study design, including 178 adolescents (102 girls and 76 boys) from the Physical Activity and
Health Longitudinal Study (PAHLS), was followed. Height and weight were measured to calculate
the body mass index (BMI). Subsequently, WHO BMI-for-age-specific categorised body fatness.
Cardiorespiratory fitness was determined with a 20-m shuttle run test (˙VO2max), and lower-body
explosive power by the standing broad jump (SBJ). Fasting haemoglobin (Hb) and ferritin were
analysed from blood samples. Correlation analyses determine the association between iron status,
explosive power and cardiorespiratory fitness. Of the 178 participants, 18.5% (n = 33) had low Hb, and
14% (n = 25) iron deficiency without anaemia. Significant positive correlations were found between
the selected physical fitness components, ferritin, and Hb. In boys, a positive association was found
between Hb and SBJ (r = 0.30, p = 0.006), whilst in girls, positive associations were found between
ferritin (r = 0.25, p = 0.04) and SBJ, and Hb with both SBJ (r = 0.21, p = 0.03) and ˙VO2max (r = 0.32,
p = 0.001). Hb concentration remained associated with ˙VO2max and SBJ in girls after adjustment for
age, whilst in boys, Hb concentration was associated with SBJ. Higher iron status in South African
adolescents is associated with higher lower-limb explosive power and cardiorespiratory fitness. We
suggest monitoring of haematological parameters, and interventions to improve the iron status of
South African adolescents.

Keywordscardiorespiratory fitness; BMI; South African adolescents; haemoglobin; iron status; muscular strength
Article Publishing Charge (APC) FundingResearcher
Contains Sensitive ContentDoes not contain sensitive content
ANZSRC Field of Research 20204299. Other health sciences
Byline AffiliationsNorth-West University, South Africa
School of Health and Medical Sciences
Centre for Health Research
Durban University of Technology, South Africa
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