Relationship between self-reported food and fluid intake and menstrual disturbance in female recreational runners

A 1 year prospective study was conducted in France in 1993-1994 to examine the extent of menstrual cycle impairment in a sample of recreational French runners, and to relate the extent of impairment to dietary characteristics. The runners provided 7-day weighed food and fluid intake at intervals of 3 months during the year, as well as full details of their menstrual cycles and training schedules. The food survey commenced with 34 runners and 21 provided information on all four occasions. About 6% of the women, at any session, unrealistically report their dietary intakes. However, there was no evidence of any relationship between extent of under-reporting and menstrual status. The sample was divided into three menstrual cycle groups of eumenorrhoeic, irregular and amenorrhoeic (including oligomenorrhoeic). No significant differences in mean energy intake, carbohydrate, fat and protein intakes were found between groups. However, there were very marked differences in fluid and fibre intake, with amenorrhoeic and oligomenorrhoeic runners consuming about twice the mean daily fluid intake of eumenorrhoeic or irregularly menstruating groups.