Less Iron, Every Other Day: Same Ferritin Gains in Women
Hepcidin can throttle iron absorption after a daily dose, which may be why oral iron so often disappoints and upsets the stomach. A 2026 randomized trial in 66 iron-deficient women tested 21 mg of iron every 48 hours against 30 mg daily for 42 days. Ferritin rose significantly in both groups with no significant difference between them, while hemoglobin stayed stable and GI effects were mild. The catch is that this was active-controlled with no placebo, and the iron forms differed, so the result is comparable rather than superior. Here is what it means for women who train, and why you should test ferritin before supplementing.
Creatine Helped Women With Bad Knees Stand Up Better. Not Why You Think
Creatine is usually pitched at young lifters, but a randomized, double-blind trial tested it in postmenopausal women with knee osteoarthritis. After 12 weeks of leg training, the creatine group's timed-stands score rose from 15.7 to 18.1, while placebo barely moved (15.0 to 15.2). Creatine also improved stiffness, lean mass and quality of life. But pain relief and leg-press max strength were no better than placebo. Here's what the numbers show and who this might actually help.