Low Energy Availability Is Difficult to Assess but Outcomes Have Large Impact on Bone Injury Rates in Elite Distance Athletes

We aimed to (a) report energy availability (EA), metabolic/reproductive function, bone mineral density, and injury/illness rates in national/world-class female and male distance athletes and (b) investigate the robustness of various diagnostic criteria from the Female Athlete Triad (Triad), Low Ener...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism 2018-07, Vol.28 (4), p.403-411
Main Authors: Heikura, Ida A, Uusitalo, Arja L T, Stellingwerff, Trent, Bergland, Dan, Mero, Antti A, Burke, Louise M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Athletes
Bone density
Females
Sports injuries
Testosterone
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Summary:We aimed to (a) report energy availability (EA), metabolic/reproductive function, bone mineral density, and injury/illness rates in national/world-class female and male distance athletes and (b) investigate the robustness of various diagnostic criteria from the Female Athlete Triad (Triad), Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire, and relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) tools to identify risks associated with low EA. Athletes were distinguished according to benchmarks of reproductive function (amenorrheic [n = 13] vs. eumenorrheic [n = 22], low [lowest quartile of reference range; n = 10] versus normal testosterone [n = 14]), and EA calculated from 7-day food and training diaries (< or >30 kcal·kg fat-free mass·day ). Sex hormones (p 
ISSN:1526-484X
1543-2742
DOI:10.1123/ijsnem.2017-0313