DefinePK

Abstract

Fatigue is a universal symptom not only associated with most acute and chronic illnesses but also with normal, healthy athletes who have low energy due to a poor diet. Fatigue is caused by the high production of lactic acid and low platelet count in athletes’ blood. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of iron supplementation on iron concentration and platelet count, leading to a reduction in both lactic acid formation and deposition in female athletes. The study was conducted on 18 female athletes aged 18 to 25 years who voluntarily participated in the study. An experimental research design was randomly and equally employed, with three groups, i.e., control group (C.G), experimental Group (GA), and experimental Group (GB). The experimental groups received iron supplementation with different dosages and time-dependent, i.e., two doses (FeSO4: 320±5mg) twice a week for 4 weeks (Group A) and the same dose once a week for 8 weeks (Group B), while the control group followed their usual routine schedule. This study was further divided into different intervals, i.e., pre-test, intermediate, and post-test, respectively. Blood sampling was done at the above-mentioned intervals. The blood samples from the clinical lab were analyzed for hemoglobin, iron concentration, platelet count, and lactic acid burden. The results were analyzed using paired sample t-tests, ANOVA test, mean, and standard deviation measurements by using Prism GraphPad 5 software. The data analysis provided insights into the effectiveness of iron supplementation in improving iron levels (mg/dL), platelet counts (x10^9/L), and reducing lactic acid formation (mg/dL). This study highlights the potential benefits of iron supplementation in both groups, but more significantly in short-duration and multiple dose in female athletes. These findings contribute to the understanding of how iron supplementation can positively affect platelet count and reduce lactic acid burden, potentially leading to improved athletic performance and fatigue.