OBSERVATIONS ON THE HÆMATOLOGY AND THE IRON AND PROTEIN INTAKE OF AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC ATHLETES

Abstract

Hæmatological studies were conducted on Australian athletes before the 1968 Olympic Games. In tests in Melbourne and one to two weeks after their arrival in Mexico City, male athletes competing in endurance events had lower packed cell volumes and haemoglobin levels than those in events requiring less endurance. Female athletes had lower packed cell volumes and haemoglobin levels than the males, and showed no significant difference between means from subgroups divided on an endurance basis. Most athletes with packed cell volumes and haemoglobin levels which were classed as suboptimal in the last test before the Olympic Games did not perform well in Individual events requiring endurance. Nutritional studies on athletes with suboptimal haemoglobin levels suggested that, in general, Iron and protein intakes were not contributory factors. Other possible causes of reduced haemoglobin levels and packed cell volumes during training and the potential role of haematology in a training programme are discussed.