Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 7, 2026
Author Spotlight: Advancements in 3D Optical Imaging for Comprehensive Body Composition Assessment in Modern Research
Published on: June 7, 2024
Associations Between Nutritional Intake, Body Composition, Menstrual Health, and Performance in Elite Female Trail
Nil Piñol-Granadino1, Marta Carrasco-Marginet1,2,3, Silvia Puigarnau1,2
1National Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia (INEFC), Av. De l'Estadi 12-22, 08038 Barcelona, Spain.
Elite female trail runners often have low energy availability (EA). While menstrual status didn't impact performance, specific nutritional patterns significantly influenced both performance and EA, highlighting the need for personalized nutrition strategies.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Nutritional Physiology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Investigated nutritional intake, body composition, menstrual health, and performance in elite female trail runners.
- Focused on 35 athletes, categorizing them into eumenorrheic and amenorrheic/oligomenorrheic groups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the relationship between nutritional status, menstrual function, body composition, and athletic performance in elite female trail runners.
- To identify key nutritional factors influencing energy availability and performance outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional multivariate analysis including 7-day and 24-hour dietary records, anthropometry (ISAK standards), and performance rankings (ITRA, UTMB).
- Statistical methods: t-tests, MANCOVA, regression models, and Random Forest, controlling for body composition and covariates.
- Assessment of energy availability (EA) relative to fat-free mass (FFM).
Main Results:
- 94.3% of athletes exhibited clinically low energy availability (EA <30 kcal/kg FFM/day).
- Amenorrheic athletes showed higher intake of simple carbohydrates and protein; eumenorrheic athletes consumed more complex carbohydrates and vitamins.
- Inadequate calcium and iron intake was prevalent in both groups. Low EA correlated with ectomorphic somatotype.
- Performance was negatively associated with simple carbohydrates and positively with complex carbohydrates, total energy, protein, polyunsaturated fats, and zinc.
- No significant performance differences were observed between menstrual status groups.
Conclusions:
- Menstrual irregularities in elite female trail runners did not directly impact performance.
- Nutritional patterns significantly influenced both athletic performance and energy availability.
- Personalized nutrition strategies are crucial for optimizing performance and ensuring the health of elite female trail runners.
More Related Videos
07:51An Innovative Running Wheel-based Mechanism for Improved Rat Training Performance
Published on: September 19, 2016
03:35Determining Gender-Based Differences in Retinal and Choroidal Thickness in Underweight Individuals via Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography
Published on: December 1, 2023
Related Concept Videos
01:28Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
01:22Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle
At puberty, GnRH begins a pulsatile release pattern, which triggers the anterior pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The frequency and amplitude of GnRH pulses vary across the menstrual cycle, with faster pulses favoring LH release and slower pulses favoring FSH...
01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...