„Study protocol: prevalence of low energy availability and its relation to health and performance among female football players“

Prospektives Biobanking, Studienprotokoll, LEA, Studie, Norwegen

J. H. Rosenvinge et al., BMJ Open Sport Exerc. Med., Bd. 8, Nr. 1, S. e001219, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2021-001219.

LEA - Low energy availability in female elite athletes

Sustained low energy levels, or low energy availability (LEA), are associated with several potentially serious physiological and mental conditions. It has been published that LEA is prevalent in elite female endurance athletes and undermines the health and performance of female athletes.

Study protocol and storage of serum and plasma samples (prospective biobanking)

This paper describes a study protocol that addresses the prevalence, measurement, and correlates of LEA in relation to health and performance in female soccer players. In addition, serum and plasma samples from the subjects are stored in a biobank for future reference.

Four studies are conducted:

  1. to evaluate the accuracy of Global Positioning Systems (GPS)-based energy consumption monitoring devices using indirect calorimetry as the gold standard,
  2. to assess energy intake, quantify energy use, and investigate energy availability using self-report, dual-labeled water (DLW), and GPS monitoring devices,
  3. to determine the point prevalence of LEA with self-report, DLW, dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to quantify muscle and bone mass distribution and density, and a series of hormone analyses; 
  4. and to investigate whether the prevalence of LEA varies over a full soccer season.

Scope of Study

Measurements of DXA and DLW are resource intensive and are collected from one professional soccer club (20 women). In contrast, the remaining data will be collected from four high profile soccer clubs competing in the Norwegian first or second division (60 women, ages 16-34) in Bergen. Participants will be required to provide blood samples for all hormonal data, which will be collected after an overnight fasting period (8-10 hours). A transvaginal ultrasound will be performed and examined in conjunction with serum testosterone, if needed, to look for possible symptoms of polycystic ovaries.