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Is there energy conservation in amenorrheic compared with eumenorrheic distance runners?
J H Wilmore1, K C Wambsgans, M Brenner
1Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, University of Texas, Austin 78712.
Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Female distance runners with secondary amenorrhea (loss of menstruation) do not conserve energy. Their low bone density may be linked to disordered eating and insufficient caloric intake, not metabolic changes.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Female distance runners face risks of secondary amenorrhea (loss of menstruation) and reduced bone density.
- These conditions are suspected to be linked to nutritional or metabolic factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate if amenorrheic runners conserve energy at lower caloric intakes.
- Examine the interplay between reduced energy intake, secondary amenorrhea, and bone density.
Main Methods:
- Compared 8 amenorrheic runners, 5 eumenorrheic runners, and 5 controls.
- Assessed body composition, bone density, hormonal levels, metabolic rates, and energy expenditure.
- Estimated energy intake via 3-day logs.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in energy intake or expenditure were found between groups.
- A caloric deficit of 500-700 kcal existed between reported intake and expenditure, suggesting underreporting.
- No evidence of energy conservation was observed in amenorrheic runners.
Conclusions:
- The study found no physiological basis for energy conservation in amenorrheic runners.
- Disordered eating, secondary amenorrhea, and bone mineral loss may be interconnected.
- Underreporting of energy intake is a likely factor contributing to the observed energy deficit.