Purpose : This study was undertaken to clarify the effect of heme-iron supplementation on the prevention of iron-deficiency anemia in male collegiate distance runners.Methods : Forty-one male collegiate runners were divided into three groups, consisting of a heme-iron group (HI), a citrate-iron group (CI), and a non-iron group (NI). Iron tablets (heme-iron or citrate-iron) were administered at a dose of 7 mg per day for two months. The blood components and nutritional intakes were estimated before and after the intervention.Results : The nutritional intakes did not differ among the three groups. The red blood cell, hemoglobin, hematocrit, ferritin, Glutamic-Pyruvate Transferase and γ-Glutamyl Transpeptidase levels were unchanged throughout the experimental periods. After the intervention, the serum iron levels significantly decreased in the NI group but not in the iron-supplemented groups, while the reticulocytes counts increased among the three groups.Conclusion : The small amount of heme-iron supplementation was thus found to have a preventive effect on iron deficiency anemia without causing any negative side affects.

Local recurrence after endoscopic piecemeal mucosal resection (EPMR) for colorectal tumors is a crucial issue. However, such recurrence is usually detected within one year and cured with additional endoscopic treatment, which makes EPMR acceptable. Herein, we report a rare case of repeatedly recurrent colon cancer involving the appendiceal orifice after EPMR, which was not cured with additional endoscopic treatments. A 67-year-old man was referred to us for endoscopic treatment of a 25 mm cecal tumor spreading to the appendiceal orifice in May 2002. The tumor was resected with EPMR, showing well differentiated intramucosal adenocarcinoma with a positive lateral cut margin of tubular adenoma. Endoscopic surveillance was conducted and the first local recurrence was detected in August 2006. Although we resected it endoscopically, the second local recurrence was found in September 2007 and we removed it with endoscopic resection again. However, the third local recurrence was detected in March 2008. Although endoscopic resection was performed also for the third recurrence, curative resection was not achieved. In February 2009, laparoscopic assisted colectomy was performed and histopathological examination showed well differentiated adenocarcinoma with deep submucosal invasion. This case is important in considering indication for endoscopic resection in colorectal tumors involving the appendiceal orifice.
Adenocarcinoma/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Aged ; Appendiceal Neoplasms/complications ; Colectomy ; Colonic Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Colonoscopy ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/pathology ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Recurrence