DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF AN IRON-RICH FUNCTIONAL BAR: EFFECTS ON IRON STATUS AND PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE IN FEMALE ATHLETES

Abstract

Background: Iron deficiency is a risk factor in female athletes due to iron losses associated with menstruation, iron losses due to exercise, and the physiological needs for regular exercise. Food-based functional products could be a safe and sustainable solution to achieve better iron status and optimal sport performance. Objective: The aim of this study was to design and test an iron-enriched functional bar and its impact on haematological, physiological, anthropometric and performance parameters in female athletes with an intermittent endurance training profile. Methods: The design used was a randomized, double-blind, pre-test–post test experimental design. The first phase consisted of formulation and assessment of the iron rich functional bar for sensory, nutritional, and microbiological acceptability. Thirty intermittent-endurance trained female athletes (18-25 years) were randomly divided into an experimental (n = 15) and a placebo group (n = 15). The participants took one 30 g iron rich functional bar or placebo bar per day for six weeks. Haemoglobin, serum ferritin, body mass index (BMI), fatigue, resting heart rate, aerobic capacity (VO₂max), muscular endurance and physical activity were used as outcome measures. Paired-samples t-test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to analyse the data. Results: The functional bar optimized by the introduction of iron exhibited high sensory acceptability, good nutritional composition, and acceptable microbiological quality. After 6 weeks, the experimental group had significantly improved haemoglobin and serum ferritin, BMI, VO₂ max, muscular endurance and physical activity, and there was a significant decrease in fatigue and resting heart rate compared with the placebo group (p < 0.05). ANCOVA showed significantly better adjusted post intervention scores in the experimental group. Conclusion: The functional iron-rich developed bar successfully improved Fe status and selected haematological, physiological and performance-related parameters, which suggests it is a viable, safe and sustainable nutritional intervention for female athletes.