Improvement in iron deficiency anemia through therapy with ferric ammonium citrate and vitamin C and the effects of aerobic exercise.

In 781 female college students, there were 41 cases of iron deficiency anemia, 209 of latent iron deficiency, 3 of other anemias, and 528 normal cases. Fifty-four volunteers recruited from the iron deficiency anemia and severe latent iron deficiency groups were randomly divided into 4 study groups. Groups I and III received 500 mg of vitamin C daily, and groups II and IV received ferric ammonium citrate (FeAC; equivalent to 6 mg iron) in addition to vitamin C for 9 weeks. Groups I and II were loaded by aerobic exercise at 50% VO2 max. Significant differences between groups were noted in serum ferritin (SF) in III/IV, hematocrit (Ht) in II/III and III/IV, and reticulocytes (RET) in I/II, I/IV, and III/IV. Hemoglobin (Hb) and other iron-related blood indices tended to normalize in groups II and IV when compared with the pre-values. VO2 max was elevated in groups I and II regardless of iron treatment, but was augmented more in group II than group I.