F&N Bulletin Vol 23 No 1b - United Nations University

62
S. K. Mann et al.
TABLE 6. Exercise time, maximum work load, and blood pressure of subjects in the anemic but energy-adequate (AEA) and
the anemic and energy-deficient (AED) groups (n = 15) a
AEA
Before iron After iron Before iron After iron After iron–
supplemen- supplemen- t value supplemen- supplemen- energy supplep
value
Measurement tation (a) tation (b) (a vs b) tation (c) tation (d) mentation (e) (c vs d) (c vs e)
Exercise time 9/57 ± 1.20 11/38 ± 0.94 3.81** 7/39 ± 1.31 10/15 ± 0.85 10/58 ± 0.66 < .01 < .01
(min/s)
Maximum work 11.0 ± 1.19 12.66 ± 1.11 4.15** 8.80 ± 1.32 11.53 ± 1.24 11.80 ± 0.67 < .01 < .01
load (MET)
Systolic BP (mm Hg)
Before exercise 121 ± 9 118 ± 6 NS 120 ± 10 117 ± 7 117 ± 7 NS NS
After exercise 156 ± 14 153 ± 9 NS 158 ± 7 157 ± 8 158 ± 7 NS NS
a. Values are means ± SE. MET, Metabolic equivalents; BP, blood pressure; NS, nonsignificant.
**p < .01.
AED
In the AEA group, there was no significant decrease
in the heart rate after iron supplementation when
the subjects were in the supine position, during exercise
stages 2 and 3, and during peak exercise on the
treadmill. However, a significant (p < .05) decrease
was observed in heart rate after iron supplementation
during exercise stage 1. Similarly, in the AED group,
a nonsignificant decrease in maximum heart rate was
observed during the supine position, during exercise
stages 2 and 3, and during peak exercise on the treadmill
after iron and iron–energy supplementation.
However, the subjects were able to exercise for a longer
time without any significant difference in heart rate,
indicating an improvement in physical fitness after iron
and iron–energy supplementation (fig. 1). In the AEA
group, the ECG during the supine position, standing,
and exercise was normal in 13 subjects before iron
supplementation, but after iron supplementation, the
number of subjects with a normal electrocardiogram
increased to 14. Similarly, in the AED group, the
number of subjects with a normal electrocardiogram
increased after iron supplementation. Anemia is one of
the causes for the ST change in the electrocardiogram
(table 7).
Severe iron and energy deficiency affected physical
work capacity, and supplementation with iron or
energy or with both improved physical work capacity
in terms of exercise time, blood pressure, and heart
rate. Combined energy and iron deficiencies had a
worse effect on physical work capacity than energy or
iron deficiency alone.
Heart rate
250
200
150
100
50
Before
supplementation
After iron
supplementation
AEA
Before
supplementation
After iron
supplementation
AED
Peak ex.
Ex. III
Ex. II
Ex. I
Rec. period
Supine
After
iron–energy
supplementation
FIG. 1. Heart rate during supine position, different
exercises on treadmill, and recovery period of subjects
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