Effects of iron supplement and exercise intensities on the levels of blood hemoglobin among Jimma University male soccer players

This study was aimed to examine the effects of Iron Supplement and Exercise Intensities on the Levels of Blood Hemoglobin among Jimma University Male Soccer Players. The subjects of this study were twenty male soccer players (ten players in each group) and they were purposively selected and randomly assigned in each group. Anthropometric (age, height, weight and body mass index), physiological (resting heart rate and blood pressure), endurance performance (12 min run and Bruce incremental test) and hematological (hemoglobin and red blood cell tests) variables were tested by digital scale in meter, digital balanced beam scale in kilogram, and body mass index was calculated, Sphygmomanometer, stop watch and humacount hematology analyzer. The analyses were carried out by the descriptive statistical analysis included mean and standard deviation, using SPSS version 16.0 software with a p-value 0.05. 5ml of blood sample were collected before, during and after supplying iron with folic acid in the 12 weeks of the study period. Therefore, both in high and moderate intensity training statistically significant mean difference were observed in RHR, SBP, DBP, Cooper test, HB and RBC at (p 0.05) The mean RBC difference of high and moderate intensity group was 0.98 ml/cm³ (22.99%) and 0.75 ml/cm³ (17.94%) respectively before and after supplementation and endurance training. The mean HB difference of high and moderate intensity group was 3.35 g/dl (23.29%) and by 2.05 g/dl (14.36%) respectively before and after supplementation and endurance training. This study showed that iron supplementation increased hemoglobin level of soccer players in high intensity and moderate intensity endurance training.