A Novel Iron-Based Supplement for Athletes Aged 14-17

Current iron supplements on the market are commonly associated with side effects including gastrointestinal distress, nausea, vomiting, and constipation. As a solution, the investigators have developed a novel delivery system for iron supplementation that overcomes many of these limitations. The goal of this study is to assess the efficacy of a yeast-iron complex in improving iron status, gut microbiome, and exercise performance in endurance-trained adolescent females (aged 14-17) with sub-optimal iron status. Participants will consume 40mg of elemental iron every second day for 8 weeks. Before and after supplementation, participants will be assessed for exercise capacity (VO2max), iron status, and the current state of the gut microbiome. each week during supplementation, participants will complete a survey in which they will report feelings of stress and recovery as well as gastrointestinal symptoms.