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Low-energy density and high fiber intake are dietary concerns in female endurance athletes.

Melin, Anna LU ; Tornberg, Åsa LU orcid ; Skouby, S ; Møller, S S ; Faber, J ; Sundgot-Borgen, J and Sjödin, A (2016) In Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports 26(9). p.1060-1071
Abstract
Low or reduced energy availability (LEA) is linked to functional hypothalamic oligomenorrhea/amenorrhea (FHA), which is frequently reported in weight-sensitive sports. This makes LEA a major nutritional concern for female athletes. The aim of this study was to describe dietary characteristics of athletes with LEA and/or FHA. Endurance athletes (n = 45) were recruited from national teams and competitive clubs. Protocols included gynecological examination, body composition, eating disorder evaluation, and 7-day dietary intake and EA assessment. Athletes with disordered eating behavior/eating disorders (n = 11), menstrual dysfunction other than FHA (n = 5), and low dietary record validity (n = 4) were excluded. Remaining subjects (n = 25)... (More)
Low or reduced energy availability (LEA) is linked to functional hypothalamic oligomenorrhea/amenorrhea (FHA), which is frequently reported in weight-sensitive sports. This makes LEA a major nutritional concern for female athletes. The aim of this study was to describe dietary characteristics of athletes with LEA and/or FHA. Endurance athletes (n = 45) were recruited from national teams and competitive clubs. Protocols included gynecological examination, body composition, eating disorder evaluation, and 7-day dietary intake and EA assessment. Athletes with disordered eating behavior/eating disorders (n = 11), menstrual dysfunction other than FHA (n = 5), and low dietary record validity (n = 4) were excluded. Remaining subjects (n = 25) were characterized by EA [optimal: ≥ 45 kcal (188 kJ)/kg fat-free mass (FFM)/day (n = 11), LEA: < 45 kcal (188 kJ)/kg FFM/day (n = 14)] and reproductive function [eumenorrhea (EUM; n = 10), FHA (n = 15)]. There was no difference in EA between FHA and EUM subjects. However, FHA and LEA subjects shared the same dietary characteristics of lower energy density (ED) [(P = 0.012; P = 0.020), respectively], and fat content [(P = 0.047; P = 0.027), respectively]. Furthermore, FHA subjects had a lower intake of carbohydrate-rich foods (P = 0.019), higher fiber content (P < 0.001), and drive for thinness score (P = 0.003). Conclusively, low ED together with high fiber content may constitute targets for dietary intervention in order to prevent and treat LEA and FHA in female athletes. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
volume
26
issue
9
pages
1060 - 1071
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • pmid:26148242
  • wos:000382714500009
  • pmid:26148242
  • scopus:85028257576
ISSN
1600-0838
DOI
10.1111/sms.12516
project
Fysiologiska och psykologiska aspekter på låg energitillgänglighet hos kvinnor - påverkan på metabolsim, prestation och hälsa
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7356694a-8c70-455c-a05c-58620aba0d7f (old id 7750319)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26148242?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 09:19:22
date last changed
2023-04-28 13:49:03
@article{7356694a-8c70-455c-a05c-58620aba0d7f,
  abstract     = {{Low or reduced energy availability (LEA) is linked to functional hypothalamic oligomenorrhea/amenorrhea (FHA), which is frequently reported in weight-sensitive sports. This makes LEA a major nutritional concern for female athletes. The aim of this study was to describe dietary characteristics of athletes with LEA and/or FHA. Endurance athletes (n = 45) were recruited from national teams and competitive clubs. Protocols included gynecological examination, body composition, eating disorder evaluation, and 7-day dietary intake and EA assessment. Athletes with disordered eating behavior/eating disorders (n = 11), menstrual dysfunction other than FHA (n = 5), and low dietary record validity (n = 4) were excluded. Remaining subjects (n = 25) were characterized by EA [optimal: ≥ 45 kcal (188 kJ)/kg fat-free mass (FFM)/day (n = 11), LEA: &lt; 45 kcal (188 kJ)/kg FFM/day (n = 14)] and reproductive function [eumenorrhea (EUM; n = 10), FHA (n = 15)]. There was no difference in EA between FHA and EUM subjects. However, FHA and LEA subjects shared the same dietary characteristics of lower energy density (ED) [(P = 0.012; P = 0.020), respectively], and fat content [(P = 0.047; P = 0.027), respectively]. Furthermore, FHA subjects had a lower intake of carbohydrate-rich foods (P = 0.019), higher fiber content (P &lt; 0.001), and drive for thinness score (P = 0.003). Conclusively, low ED together with high fiber content may constitute targets for dietary intervention in order to prevent and treat LEA and FHA in female athletes.}},
  author       = {{Melin, Anna and Tornberg, Åsa and Skouby, S and Møller, S S and Faber, J and Sundgot-Borgen, J and Sjödin, A}},
  issn         = {{1600-0838}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{9}},
  pages        = {{1060--1071}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports}},
  title        = {{Low-energy density and high fiber intake are dietary concerns in female endurance athletes.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/sms.12516}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/sms.12516}},
  volume       = {{26}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}