Posted by Yoshi at 11/04/2012

Anyone have any knowledge of how much additional iron is required for endurance athletes such as distance runners? The USRDA is 18mg/day (if I remember correctly) for my age/gender, but I've also heard that vegans/vegetarians need to eat approximately twice that due to the low absorption of non-heme iron. I've taken an iron supplement almost everyday for about 2-3 years, but I want to start getting all of my intake from food sources. Not to mention that I believe the supplements are causing me stomach problems. I started taking them about 2 years after becoming vegetarian due to extreme fatigue that I was experiencing. I am a 35 year old male, vegetarian for 5+ years and vegan for almost 2. I run between 40-50 miles a week. If anyone has any experience with this issue I would love to hear your advice on my requirements or suggestions on foods that I should be concentrating on. Thanks!