Abstract
Background: Athletes may enter a state of low energy availability (LEA) when their increase in energy expenditure is not compensated by their energy intake (EI). The consequences of LEA, known as relative energy deficiency in sports (RED-S), can impact the health and performance of athletes. Differences in dietary intake, body composition and blood markers have been published in those with LEA, but most of this research is amongst endurance athletes and data is collected at a single time point. A tool used to identify those at risk of LEA is the low energy availability in female questionnaire (LEAF-Q).
Aim: To determine differences amongst those classed as at risk of LEA based on their LEAF-Q and existing health markers associated with RED-S amongst elite female rugby 7s players at two time points.
Methods: Elite female rugby 7s athletes were recruited from the New Zealand 7s team. Participants (n=14) were asked to complete a LEAF-Q alongside a diet record, provide blood samples and undergo a DEXA scan, in 2018 and 2019. The relationship between LEA risk (at risk of LEA (≥8), not-at-risk (<8)) and dietary intake, blood markers (ferritin, triiodothyronine, high sensitivity C-reactive protein) and body composition were analyzed using an unpaired t-test, corrected with multiple comparison, therefore a p value of <0.025 was used to detect significant difference. A paired t-test was used to compare variables of those at risk and those not-at-risk of LEA at both time points, using a p value of <0.05 to detect significant difference.
Results:
In 2018, 50% of the participants were classified as at risk of LEA and the other 50% were classified as not-at-risk of LEA. In 2019, 57.1% were classified as at risk of LEA and 42.9%
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were not-at-risk of LEA. Injury history of the participants heavily influenced the risk score on the LEAF-Q amongst elite female rugby 7s players. When comparing dietary EI between the two groups, those at risk in 2018 had intakes significantly lower than those not-at-risk (8836 (1376) vs 11003 (1706) kJ.d-1, respectively, p = 0.023). There was no significant difference detected between LEA risk and body composition or blood markers measured.
Conclusion:
This study shows a lack in relationship between risk score on the LEAF-Q and health markers associated with RED-S. Considering the influence of injury history on the risk score, using the LEAF-Q may not be appropriate to categorize RED-S risk amongst elite female rugby 7s players.