Severe reduction of energy availability in controlled conditions causes poor endurance performance, impairs explosive power and affects hormonal status in trained male endurance athletes

Iva Jurov (Author), Nicola Keay (Author), Samo Rauter (Author)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to severely reduce energy availability (EA) in controlled conditions in trained male endurance athletes to observe any effects on health, performance, and psychological and energy markers. EA was reduced by 50% over 14 days in athletes by maintaining identical energy intake and increasing exercise energy expenditure. Blood was drawn, performance was measured by three specific tests (endurance, explosive power and agility) and two psychological questionnaires were used. Reduced EA (17.3 ± 5.0 kcal/kg FFM/day) resulted in lower body fat% (t(12) = 3.36, p = 0.006), lower power output and relative power output (t(12) = 2.69, p = 0.021 t(12) = 2.34, p = 0.036), explosive power was reduced (t(12) = 6.41, p = 0.000), lactate metabolism was altered (p = 0.001). EA was negatively correlated with haemoglobin and testosterone (r = −0.557, p = 0.30 and r = −0.532, p = 0.037), anaerobic threshold (r = −0.597, p = 0.02) and respiratory compensation point (r = −0.575, p = 0.025). There were significant differences in Well-being (t(12) = 4.11, p = 0.002) and the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (t(12) = −2.71, p = 0.020). This is the first study to demonstrate that endurance performance and explosive power can be affected before detrimental health effects occur in male athletes. Drastic reductions of EA could lead to poor eating behaviours. The two psychological questionnaires seem to be more sensitive to EA changes than blood markers.

Keywords

energija;vzdržljivost;eksplozivna moč;metabolizem;laktati;relativno energijsko pomanjkanje v športu;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2021
Typology:	1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:	UL FŠ - Faculty of Sport
UDC:	616
COBISS:	80960515
ISSN:	2076-3417
Views:	92
Downloads:	35
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

Secondary language:	Slovenian
Secondary keywords:	energija;vzdržljivost;eksplozivna moč;metabolizem;laktati;relativno energijsko pomanjkanje v športu;
Type (COBISS):	Article
Pages:	str. 1-9
Volume:	ǂVol. ǂ11
Issue:	ǂiss. ǂ18
Chronology:	2021
DOI:	10.3390/app11188618
ID:	15129385