Study the Effect of Relative Energy Deficiency on Physiological and Physical Variables in Professional Women Athletes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Laura Miralles-Amorós, Nuria Asencio-Mas, María Martínez-Olcina, Manuel Vicente-Martínez, José Manuel García De Frutos, Marcelo Peñaranda-Moraga, Lucía Gonzálvez-Alvarado, Rodrigo Yáñez-Sepúlveda, Guillermo Cortés-Roco, Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Energy deficits are often observed in athletes, especially in female athletes, due to the high expenditure of sport and strict diets. Low energy availability can cause serious health problems and affect sport performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different personalized dietary plans on physiological and physical factors related to energy deficit syndrome in female professional handball players. Twenty-one professional female handball players, aged 22 ± 4 years, 172.0 ± 5.4 cm and 68.4 ± 6.7 kg, divided into three groups (FD: free diet; MD: Mediterranean diet; and AD: high antioxidant diet), participated in this 12-week randomized controlled trial. Energy expenditure through indirect calorimetry, energy availability, 7 day dietary intake analysis, blood pressure, cholesterol, menstrual function, body composition by both anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance, and strength performance were assessed. All participants showed low energy availability (<30 kcal/lean mass per day); despite this, all had eumenorrhea. Significant improvements were found after the intervention in all components of body composition (p < 0.05). In the remaining variables, despite slight improvements, none were significant neither over time nor between the different groups. Low energy availability has been observed in all professional female handball players, which may lead to serious consequences. A longer period of intervention is required to assess the differences between diets and improvements in other parameters.

Original languageEnglish
Article number168
JournalMetabolites
Volume13
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23 Jan 2023

Keywords

  • body image
  • eating disorders
  • energy deficit syndrome
  • handball
  • low energy availability
  • mood state
  • nutrition
  • performance
  • rest metabolic rate
  • strength

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

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