Assessment of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) Risk among Adolescent Acrobatic Gymnasts

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Energy imbalance can lead to relative energy deficiency in sports (REDs) syndrome.
• Limited data exists on energy intake, REDs, and bone mineral density (BMD) in adolescent acrobatic gymnasts, particularly males.
• Understanding these factors is crucial for athlete health and performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the eating habits, energy balance, body composition, and BMD of adolescent acrobatic gymnasts.
• To identify potential risk factors for low bone mineral density in this population.
• To inform the development of targeted nutritional and training strategies.

Main Methods:

• Eighteen healthy adolescent acrobatic gymnasts (mean age 14.3 years, 6 males) participated.
• Data collection included questionnaires, 3-day food logs, activity monitoring, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans.
• Analysis compared BMD Z-scores based on athlete position (top vs. base) and sex.

Main Results:

• Mean total body BMD Z-score was 0.4 ± 1.0, generally within the normal range.
• Top-position gymnasts exhibited significantly lower total body and lumbar spine BMD Z-scores compared to base-position gymnasts (p=0.032).
• No significant sex differences were observed in BMD Z-scores, BMI, or energy availability.

Conclusions:

• While overall BMD was within normal pediatric ranges, some gymnasts had low BMD.
• Training position (top vs. base) is associated with differences in BMD, suggesting a need for position-specific monitoring.
• Personalized training programs considering high-impact training demands may improve health outcomes for acrobatic gymnasts.