Effect Of Intravenous Iron Versus Placebo On Muscle Oxidative Capacity And Physical Performance in Premenopausal Women

Inclusion criteria: INCLUSION CRITERIA * Healthy female subjects, Age \> 18 years, premenopausal, regularly menstruating * BMI 18-25 kg/m2. * Serum ferritin level \< 15ug/ml * Recreationally active with = 1.5 h/w structured activity * Adequate contraception during the study period * Informed consent Exclusion criteria: EXCLUSION CRITERIA * Anemia with Hb level \< 120 g/l * Known hypersensitivity to iron carboxymaltose, iron sucrose or iron sulfate * Intake of iron preparations (also multivitamins containing iron) during the last 8 weeks before the start of the trial protocol * Pregnancy or lactation * Any cardiovascular or pulmonary disease * Any orthopaedic or rheumatologic disease which affects exercise performance * Presence of muscle disease * Acute or chronic infection/inflammation or malignancy * Known mental disorders (e.g. depression) * Intake of concurrent medication, except oral contraceptives * CRP \> 10 mg/l * TSH out of normal range * Elevated CK (\> 167 U/l) * Any concurrent medical condition(s) that, in the view of the investigator, would prevent compliance or participation or jeopardize the health of the patients. * Participation in any other therapeutic trial within the previous month