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Haemoglobin mass in a female endurance athlete was measured via carbon monoxide rebreathing upon diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia (haemoglobin concentration = 8.8 g/dL, ferritin = 9.9 ng/mL) and regularly during treatment thereafter. Haemoglobin mass increased by 49% in the 2 wk following an intramuscular iron injection and continued to increase with oral iron supplementation for 15 wk. The presented case illustrates that haemoglobin mass is readily responsive to iron supplementation in a severely iron-defcient anemic athlete and that changes can be tracked efficiently using the CO-rebreathing method.
Laura A. Garvican is with the Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, Australia, and the Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia. Lousia Lobigs is with the Medical School, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. Richard Telford is with the Medical School, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. Kieran Fallon is with the Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, Australia, and the Medical School, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. Christopher J. Gore is with the Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, Australia, and the Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.