Iva Jurov (Author), Nicola Keay (Author), Vedran Hadžić (Author), Darjan Spudić (Author), Samo Rauter (Author)

Abstract

Background: Low energy availability in male athletes has gained a lot of attention in recent years, but direct evidence of its effects on health and performance is lacking. The aim of this research was to objectively measure energy availability (EA) in healthy male endurance athletes without pre-existing relative energy deficiency signs during pre-race season. Methods: Twelve trained endurance athletes (performance level 3, 4, and 5) participated in the cross-sectional controlled laboratory study. Fat-free mass, exercise energy expenditure, and energy intake were measured to calculate EA. Resting energy expenditure was measured and estimated to assess energy conservation. Three specific performance tests were used to assess endurance, agility, and explosive strength performance. For psychological evaluation, the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire and a short Well-being questionnaire were completed. Results: Mean EA was 29.5 kcal/kg FFM/day. The majority (66.6%) had EA under the threshold for low EA in females. Critical cognitive restraint (≥13) was reported by 75% of participants. There were no differences in performance, blood values, or psychological evaluation when subjects were divided into two groups divided by EA = 30 kcal/kg FFM/day. Cognitive restraint was negatively associated with measured resting energy expenditure and energy conservation (r = −.578, p = .025 and r = −.549, p = .032, respectively). Conclusions: The mean EA measured in this study supports the theory that the threshold for low EA in endurance male athletes might be under the threshold for females. In addition, we confirmed cognitive restraint could be useful for early detection of energy conservation. The high cognitive restraint as measured in our sample stressed the need of eating behavior screening in endurance athletes in order to reduce risk of any disordered eating patterns.

Keywords

šport;energija;nastop;vzdržljivost;športniki;relativni primanjkljaj energije;kognicija;sport;energy availability;performance;endurance;athletes;relative energy deficiency;cognitive restriction;

Data

Language: English
Year of publishing:
Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization: UL FŠ - Faculty of Sport
UDC: 796.01
COBISS: 56911363 Link will open in a new window
ISSN: 1550-2783
Views: 45
Downloads: 12
Average score: 0 (0 votes)
Metadata: JSON JSON-RDF JSON-LD TURTLE N-TRIPLES XML RDFA MICRODATA DC-XML DC-RDF RDF

Other data

Secondary language: Slovenian
Secondary keywords: šport;energija;nastop;vzdržljivost;športniki;relativni primanjkljaj energije;kognicija;
Type (COBISS): Article
Source comment: V članku je kot založnik naveden BMC (v nogi prve strani) oz. Springer Nature (na zadnji strani pod naslovom Publisher's note). Oznaka DOI za ta članek vodi na pristajalno stran članka pri novem založniku Taylor and Francis, saj je leta 2022 prišlo do spremembe založništva serijske publikacije Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. (Datum opombe: 13. 3. 2023)
Pages: Str. 1-10
Volume: ǂVol. ǂ18
Issue: ǂart. no. ǂ24
Chronology: 2021
DOI: 10.1186/s12970-021-00419-3
ID: 18254242