Update on the female athlete triad

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Endocrinology
• Bone Health

Background:

• The Female Athlete Triad involves low energy availability, functional hypothalamic amenorrhea, and osteoporosis.
• While full Triad prevalence is low (0-16%), 1-2 components affect 50-60% of certain athlete groups.
• Adolescent female athletes in leanness sports are increasingly identified with Triad components, risking critical bone development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide updated prevalence estimates for the Female Athlete Triad.
• To highlight new assessment methods for bone strength and hormonal profiles.
• To discuss emerging consequences and the need for further research.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on Female Athlete Triad prevalence.
• Inclusion of recent research on adolescent athletes and leanness sports.
• Discussion of novel assessment techniques like bone microarchitecture and hormone level measurements.

Main Results:

• Prevalence of all three Female Athlete Triad components is low (0-16%).
• However, 1 or 2 concurrent components affect 50-60% of specific athlete populations.
• Components are increasingly observed in adolescent female athletes, especially endurance runners.

Conclusions:

• Adolescent athletes require optimal nutrition and hormone function for bone health.
• New assessments aid in evaluating bone strength and metabolic profiles.
• Further research is crucial for understanding long-term effects and developing behavioral interventions.