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Caloric intake, stress, and menstrual function in athletes.
U Schweiger1, R Laessle, M Schweiger
1Max-Planck-Institut für Psychiatrie, Division of Psychoneuroendocrinology, Munich, Federal Republic of Germany.
Fertility and Sterility
|March 1, 1988
Summary
Female athletes experiencing menstrual disturbances may find relief through improved nutrition and stress management. This study links caloric intake and social stress levels to hormonal changes, offering insights into athletic amenorrhea.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Reproductive Health
Background:
- Menstrual disturbances in athletes are common but their causes are debated.
- Exertion's effects are known, but behavioral factors like nutrition and stress are suspected contributors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between nutrition, stress, and endocrine menstrual function in endurance athletes.
- To quantitatively assess hormonal changes in athletes compared to non-athletic controls.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study with frequent blood sampling in 18 endurance athletes and 25 controls.
- Collected data on nutrition (caloric intake via diaries) and subjective stress levels.
- Assessed endocrine menstrual function through hormone level measurements (estradiol, progesterone).
Main Results:
- Four athletes showed no hormonal signs of follicular development.
- Athletes with cyclic function had similar estradiol levels to controls but reduced luteal phase hormone levels.
- Luteal progesterone levels positively correlated with caloric intake and negatively with social stress.
Conclusions:
- Nutrition and stress play a critical role in the development of menstrual disturbances in athletes.
- Findings support the hypothesis that behavioral factors significantly impact athletic reproductive health.