Decreased basic metabolic rate may reflect pituitary secretion disturbance in elite female athlete

Publication date: Available online 11 October 2014 Source:Science & Sports Author(s): K. Łagowska , K. Kapczuk , J. Jeszka , Z. Friebe Aim To evaluate the relationship between basal metabolic rate, energy balance and hormones level in young female athletes with menstrual disorders. Materials and methods Thirty-three well-trained young female athletes, aged 18.4±2.9 years, with menstrual disorders due to hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction, participated in the study. Evaluation of nutritional status was based on analyses of body composition using the BIA method (fat mass [FM], fat-free mass [FFM]). Basal metabolic rate (BMR) was assessed with a portable indirect calorimeter. Serum luteinizing hormone (LH), folliculate-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), TSH, testosterone (T), prolactin (PRL) and sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and leptin levels were measured. Total energy expenditure (TEE) was evaluated using the HR-Flex method. Dietary records for 7 consecutive days were used to evaluate the athletes’ energy and nutrient intakes. Results Depending on the measured BMR value and comparing with the Harris-Benedict equation, female athletes were assigned to one of the two groups: LBMR group with low BMRs and HBMR group with high BMRs. Serum leptin (P <0.016) and LH levels (P <0.003) were significantly lower in the LBMR group. In the LBMR athletes, a tendency towards negative energy balance was observed (P <0.032). Significant...
Source: Science and Sports - Category: Sports Medicine Source Type: research