
What Research Actually Says About Ferritin, Iron Deficiency, and Running
From Tread Lightly Running Science Podcast by Amanda Brooks and Laura Norris
July 4, 2026 · 36 min · Episode 174
About this episode
This episode discusses the impact of low ferritin levels on runners and how to address it.
Are you noticing that you are tired all the time and cannot seem to hit your paces in training? Those are not symptoms to ignore. Sometimes, these are signs of low ferritin levels that warrant bloodwork and a doctor visit. In this episode, we examine the research on low ferritin and running, including the causes, how to treat, and how to prevent low ferritin. Thank you to our sponsors: ✨ Mizuno : Shop Mizuno’s newest bouncy supertrainer: https://runtothefinish.com/neovista3/ In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ Why general population reference ranges for iron are not appropriate for endurance athletes ✅ Why iron and ferritin levels matter so much for runners ✅ Signs and symptoms of low ferritin levels in runners ✅ Why runners are so prone to low ferritin levels ✅ How long it takes for iron levels to increase ✅ What impacts your iron intake and absorption References 🔬PMID: 35565873 🔬PMID: 38407751 🔬PMID: 31413088 🔬 https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/minerals/iron#toc-nutrient-interactions 🔬 PMID: 36728680 🔬PMID: 25247929 🔬https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-024-01992-8 🔬\ https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/abs/10.1139/apnm-2012-0361#.WYClN9PyvBJ 🔬 PMID: 28452395 🔬 PMID…
People in this episode
Hosts: Amanda Brooks, Laura Norris
Topics covered
- ferritin
- iron deficiency
- running performance
- endurance athletes
- health
- nutrition
Keywords
- ferritin
- iron deficiency
- running
- endurance athletes
- bloodwork
- nutrition
- symptoms
Sponsors
Mizuno
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Tread Lightly Running
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