Prevalence of Surrogate Markers of Relative Energy Deficiency in Male Norwegian Olympic-Level AthletesShow others and affiliations
2021 (English)In: International Journal of Sport Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism, ISSN 1526-484X, E-ISSN 1543-2742, Vol. 31, no 6, p. 497-506Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
The syndrome of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) includes wide-ranging effects on physiological and psychological functioning, performance, and general health. However, RED-S is understudied among male athletes at the highest performance levels. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate surrogate RED-S markers prevalence in Norwegian male Olympic-level athletes. Athletes (n = 44) aged 24.7 +/- 3.8 years, body mass 81.3 +/- 15.9 kg, body fat 13.7% +/- 5.8%, and training volume 76.1 +/- 22.9 hr/month were included. Assessed parameters included resting metabolic rate (RMR), body composition, and bone mineral density by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and venous blood variables (testosterone, free triiodothyronine, cortisol, and lipids). Seven athletes (16%) grouped by the presence of low RMR (RMRratio < 0.90) (0.81 +/- 0.07 vs. 1.04 +/- 0.09, p <.001, effect size 2.6), also showed lower testosterone (12.9 +/- 5.3 vs. 19.0 +/- 5.3 nmol/L, p =.020) than in normal RMR group. In low RMRratio individuals, prevalence of other RED-S markers (-subclinical-low testosterone, low free triiodothyronine, high cortisol, and elevated low-density lipoprotein) was (N/number of markers): 2/0, 2/1, 2/2, 1/3. Low bone mineral density (z-score < -1) was found in 16% of the athletes, all with normal RMR. Subclinical low testosterone and free triiodothyronine levels were found in nine (25%) and two (5%) athletes, respectively. Subclinical high cortisol was found in 23% of athletes while 34% had elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Seven of 12 athletes with two or more RED-S markers had normal RMR. In conclusion, this study found that multiple RED-S markers also exist in male Olympic-level athletes. This highlights the importance of regular screening of male elite athletes, to ensure early detection and treatment of RED-S.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Human Kinetics , 2021. Vol. 31, no 6, p. 497-506
National Category
Sport and Fitness Sciences
Research subject
Social Sciences, Sport Science
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-111496DOI: 10.1123/ijsnem.2020-0368ISI: 000708839400007PubMedID: 34489365Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85117258005OAI: oai:DiVA.org:lnu-111496DiVA, id: diva2:1652715
2022-04-192022-04-192022-04-22Bibliographically approved