Correlation of Iron Saturation Index with Aerobic Capacity in Young Indian Females

Iron deficiency anemia is very common in young women in developing countries. The aerobic capacity is physiologically influenced by iron and hemoglobin levels although there are other contributing factors for reduced aerobic capacity in adolescents.

To study the correlation between the iron saturation index and aerobic capacity in young Indian female population.

The cross-sectional study included forty-one young women who underwent a blood test and a treadmill test to measure aerobic capacity. Bruce treadmill testing protocol was used to estimate VO₂ max. Descriptive statistics were used to present hemoglobin, iron, ferritin, iron saturation index and aerobic capacity (expressed in VO₂ peak). The iron saturation index, hemoglobin, iron and ferritin levels were correlated with the V02 peak using Spearman's Rho correlation coefficient test. The level of significance was set at <0.05 and the strength of correlation was interpreted as weak, moderate or strong with the ‘r’ value.

The median and IQR values of hemoglobin in mg/dl was 12.6 (11.9, 13.05), iron in mg/dl was 79 (65, 95), ferritin in mg/dl was 20 (13.9, 37), iron saturation index was 21 (16, 24) and VO₂ peak in ml/kg/min was 37.45 (35.17, 38.7). The VO₂ peak values did not show significant correlation with hemoglobin (r=0.07, p=0.65), ferritin (r=-0.28, p=0.07), iron (r=0.03, p=0.56) and iron saturation index (r=0.01, p=0.9).

The aerobic capacity did not show significant correlation with hemoglobin, iron, ferritin and iron saturation index.