scholarly journals The diagnostic performance of the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q) in a mixed-sport cohort

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. S31
Author(s):  
R. Appaneal ◽  
L. Burke ◽  
M. Drew ◽  
D. Hughes ◽  
G. Lovell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Performance ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Energy Availability ◽  
Low Energy Availability

scholarly journals Body Composition, Dietary Intake and the Risk of Low Energy Availability in Elite-Level Competitive Rhythmic Gymnasts

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 2083
Author(s):  
María Villa ◽  
José G. Villa-Vicente ◽  
Jesus Seco-Calvo ◽  
Juan Mielgo-Ayuso ◽  
Pilar S. Collado
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Energy Availability ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Elite Level ◽  
Low Energy Availability ◽  
Rhythmic Gymnasts ◽  
Recommended Level

The aim of this study was to analyze dietary intake and body composition in a group of elite-level competitive rhythmic gymnasts from Spain. We undertook body composition and nutritional analysis of 30 elite gymnasts, divided into two groups by age: pre-teen (9–12 years) (n = 17) and teen (13–18 years) (n = 13). Measures of height, weight, and bioimpedance were used to calculate body mass index and percent body fat. Energy and nutrient intakes were assessed based on 7-day food records. The two groups had similar percentages of total body fat (pre-teen: 13.99 ± 3.83% vs. teen: 14.33 ± 5.57%; p > 0.05). The energy availability values for pre-teens were above the recommended values (>40 kcal/FFM/day) 69.38 ± 14.47 kcal/FFM/day, while those for the teens were much lower (34.7 ± 7.5 kcal/FFM/day). The distribution of the daily energy intake across the macronutrients indicates that both groups ingested less than the recommended level of carbohydrates and more than the recommended level of fat. Very low intakes of calcium and vitamin D among other micronutrients were also noted. The main finding is that teenage gymnasts do not consume as much energy as they need each day, which explains their weight and development. Moreover, they are at a high risk of developing low energy availability that could negatively impact their performance and future health.

Low energy availability surrogates correlate with health and performance consequences of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 628-633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn E Ackerman ◽  
Bryan Holtzman ◽  
Katherine M Cooper ◽  
Erin F Flynn ◽  
Georgie Bruinvels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Female Athletes ◽  
Relative Energy ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Clinical Population ◽  
Energy Availability ◽  
Energy Deficiency ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Performance Consequences ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Low Energy Availability

Low energy availability (EA) is suspected to be the underlying cause of both the Female Athlete Triad and the more recently defined syndrome, Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). The International Olympic Committee (IOC) defined RED-S as a syndrome of health and performance impairments resulting from an energy deficit. While the importance of adequate EA is generally accepted, few studies have attempted to understand whether low EA is associated with the health and performance consequences posited by the IOC.ObjectiveThe purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the association of low EA with RED-S health and performance consequences in a large clinical population of female athletes.MethodsOne thousand female athletes (15–30 years) completed an online questionnaire and were classified as having low or adequate EA. The associations between low EA and the health and performance factors listed in the RED-S models were evaluated using chi-squared test and the odds ratios were evaluated using binomial logistic regression (p<0.05).ResultsAthletes with low EA were more likely to be classified as having increased risk of menstrual dysfunction, poor bone health, metabolic issues, haematological detriments, psychological disorders, cardiovascular impairment and gastrointestinal dysfunction than those with adequate EA. Performance variables associated with low EA included decreased training response, impaired judgement, decreased coordination, decreased concentration, irritability, depression and decreased endurance performance.ConclusionThese findings demonstrate that low EA measured using self-report questionnaires is strongly associated with many health and performance consequences proposed by the RED-S models.

scholarly journals Do paralympic track and field athletes have low energy availability?

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Paduan Joaquim ◽  
Claudia Ridel Juzwiak ◽  
Ciro Winckler
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Track And Field ◽  
Fat Free Mass ◽  
Motion Sensor ◽  
Energy Availability ◽  
Energy Demands ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Limb Deficiency ◽  
Low Energy Availability

One of the greatest challenges when working with athletes is to achieve the energy demands for physiological processes and exercise expenditure. The aim of this study was to assess the energy availability (EA) of Paralympic track and field athletes (sprinters). Seventeen athletes (9 male and 8 female) with visual impairment (VI, n=10), cerebral palsy (CP, n=4) and limb deficiency (LD, n=3) were assessed for energy intake (EI) (4-day food photographic record), energy expenditure with exercise (EEex) (motion sensor), and body composition (skinfolds method). Energy availability was estimated using the equation: EA = (EIkcal - EEexkcal) / fat-free mass (FFM) / day, and values ≤ 30kcal/kgFFM/day were considered as low energy availability (LEA). EEex varied from 130 to 477kcal/h and athletes trained in average for 3.2 hours per day. Mean EA for VI, LD and CP were 36 (2.19), 37 (1.90) and 38 (3.38) kcal/kgFFM/day, respectively. Most (82.3%) participants presented EA below ≥ 45kcal/kgFFM/day, throughout the days, which are the recommended values for athletes without disability. Athletes should be encouraged to consume adequate EA to avoid consequences related to low energy availability. There is need of further research to identify cut-off values adequate for this population.

Hepcidin as a Prospective Individualized Biomarker for Individuals at Risk of Low Energy Availability

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 671-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire E. Badenhorst ◽  
Katherine E. Black ◽  
Wendy J. O’Brien
Keyword(s):  
Iron Deficiency ◽  
Iron Homeostasis ◽  
Dietary Intervention ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Energy Availability ◽  
Dietary Interventions ◽  
Hepcidin Expression ◽  
Ketogenic Diets ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Low Energy Availability

Hepcidin, a peptide hormone with an acknowledged evolutionary function in iron homeostasis, was discovered at the turn of the 21st century. Since then, the implications of increased hepcidin activity have been investigated as a potential advocate for the increased risk of iron deficiency in various health settings. Such implications are particularly relevant in the sporting community where peaks in hepcidin postexercise (∼3–6 hr) are suggested to reduce iron absorption and recycling, and contribute to the development of exercise-induced iron deficiency in athletes. Over the last decade, hepcidin research in sport has focused on acute and chronic hepcidin activity following single and repeated training blocks. This research has led to investigations examining possible methods to attenuate postexercise hepcidin expression through dietary interventions. The majority of macronutrient dietary interventions have focused on manipulating the carbohydrate content of the diet in an attempt to determine the health of athletes adopting the low-carbohydrate or ketogenic diets, a practice that is a growing trend among endurance athletes. During the process of these macronutrient dietary intervention studies, an observable coincidence of increased cumulative hepcidin activity to low energy availability has emerged. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the existing literature on nutritional interventions on hepcidin activity, thus, highlighting the link of hepcidin to energy availability, while also making a case for the use of hepcidin as an individualized biomarker for low energy availability in males and females.

scholarly journals Accuracy of resting metabolic rate prediction equations in female rugby players

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack O'Neill ◽  
Ciara Walsh ◽  
Senan McNulty ◽  
Martha Corish ◽  
Hannah Gantly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Muscle Damage ◽  
Resting Metabolic Rate ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Strenuous Exercise ◽  
Energy Availability ◽  
Prediction Equations ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Rugby Players ◽  
Low Energy Availability

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate (1) the accuracy of resting metabolic rate (RMR) prediction equations in female rugby players on a group and individual level; and (2) whether individual differences in the accuracy of prediction equations is associated with muscle damage or energy availability.RMR was assessed in 14 female provincial and club rugby players (Age: 20–34 years, FFM: 47–63 kg, FM: 15–37%) training a minimum of twice per week. Participants attended the laboratory following an overnight fast and having avoided strenuous exercise for 24 hours. RMR was measured over 30 minutes by indirect calorimetry, and taken as the 10 minutes with the lowest variation. Body composition was assessed by air displacement plethysmography, muscle damage indicated by creatine kinase (CK) and risk of low energy availability assessed by the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire. Accuracy of RMR prediction equations relevant to the general population and athletes were assessed including the Harris Benedict (1919), Cunningham (1980) and Ten Haaf FFM (2014) based equations.Measured RMR was 1748 ± 146 kcal/day (range: 1474–2010 kcal/day). Predicted RMR determined by the Harris-Benedict equation (1601 ± 120 kcal/day) was significantly lower than measured RMR (p < 0.001), whereas predicted RMR using the Cunningham (1753 ± 146 kcal/day, p = 0.89) and the Ten Haaf (1781 ± 115 kcal/day, p = 0.33) equations did not differ from measured RMR. On an individual level, 50% (n = 7), 86% (n = 12) and 79% (n = 11) of participants fell within 10% of the measured RMR value when RMR was predicted by Harris-Benedict, Cunningham and Ten Haaf equations respectively. CK values were 182 ± 155U/L (range: 25–490U/L). When correlations of the whole group were studied, the difference between predicted and measured RMR was not associated with CK (r = 0.13). However, in the two individuals who fell outside the 10% range of that predicted by the Cunningham equation, one above and one below, CK values were 428U/L and 166U/L respectively. Muscle damage (as indicated by a high CK value) could therefore be one potential explanation for the higher measured RMR in the individual who was above the Cunningham predicted value.In this cohort of female rugby players, the Cunningham equation showed the best accuracy on a group and individual level, suggesting this may be the most suitable prediction equation for this population. Further studies with larger sample sizes and investigating underlying reasons for why RMR measured values may differ from predicted values are needed.

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