Prevalence, consequences, and prevention of relative energy deficiency in sport in Finnish Elite
Female Athletes (NoREDS-study)
Main funder
Funder's project number: 20210197
Funds granted by main funder (€)
- 5 000,00
Funding program
Project timetable
Project start date: 01/01/2021
Project end date: 31/12/2021
Summary
The prevalence of LEA varies between sports and population studied 7. The reported prevalence of
LEA among track and field athletes is between 18% and 58% with the highest prevalence among
athletes in endurance and jumping events. Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) as
consequence of LEA has been reported in 60% of elite middle- and long-distance runners and in 23%
of elite sprinters 8,9. The prevalence in female ball game player remains unknown. Potential
performance consequences of RED-S are less well examined but include decreased muscle strength,
increased injury risk, decreased training response, and decreased endurance performance
2.Unfortunately, there is very little published data on the effects of or associations between LEA and
impaired sports performance or training adaptations 10,11. Questionnaire-based data has suggested that
performance variables associated with LEA include decreased training response, impaired judgement,
decreased coordination, irritability, depression and decreased endurance performance 12. However,
more evidence is warranted.The aim of this multidisciplinary study is to investigate the prevalence and incidence of LEA in Finnish female athletes in ball games (volleyball, ice-hockey and soccer). Furthermore, the clinical
signs of LEA (components of RED-S) will be assessed in athletes.
LEA among track and field athletes is between 18% and 58% with the highest prevalence among
athletes in endurance and jumping events. Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) as
consequence of LEA has been reported in 60% of elite middle- and long-distance runners and in 23%
of elite sprinters 8,9. The prevalence in female ball game player remains unknown. Potential
performance consequences of RED-S are less well examined but include decreased muscle strength,
increased injury risk, decreased training response, and decreased endurance performance
2.Unfortunately, there is very little published data on the effects of or associations between LEA and
impaired sports performance or training adaptations 10,11. Questionnaire-based data has suggested that
performance variables associated with LEA include decreased training response, impaired judgement,
decreased coordination, irritability, depression and decreased endurance performance 12. However,
more evidence is warranted.The aim of this multidisciplinary study is to investigate the prevalence and incidence of LEA in Finnish female athletes in ball games (volleyball, ice-hockey and soccer). Furthermore, the clinical
signs of LEA (components of RED-S) will be assessed in athletes.
