We studied 292 male adolescents on the day of entry into a volunteer military unit. Hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume, ferritin, iron, iron-transferrin saturation, and soluble transferrin receptor (TfR) were measured, and TfR-F index was calculated.
The mean Hb level (±SD) in the study population was 14.7 ± .9 g/dL (range, 10.8–16.8 g/dL), mean ferritin level was 50.6 ± 32.6 ng/mL (range, 5.4–162.5 ng/mL), and mean iron level was 97.1 ± 39.9 μg/dL (range, 24–267 μg/dL). The prevalence of anemia (Hb <14 g/dL) was 18.5%, and 3.4%had Hb concentrations less than 13 g/dL. Iron deficiency (ferritin <22 ng/mL) was present in 18%of the subjects, and 11.3%had ferritin levels less than 17 ng/mL. The mean soluble transferrin receptor concentration was 1.9 ± .8 mg/L, and the mean TfR-F index was 1.21 ± .57.
Nearly 19%of the study subjects had mild anemia at recruitment, and depletion of iron stores was observed among 18%. Overall, these changes were not accompanied by a significant increase in soluble TfR. This high prevalence is most likely the result of “sports anemia” due to the intense physical training regimen adopted prior to their recruitment.