Research Assistant University of New Hampshire Framingham, Massachusetts, United States
Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Disclosure(s):
Anthony Dempsey: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Objectives: To identify low energy availability (LEA) in a sample of collegiate athletes and nonathletes and explore the relationship with bone mineral status and nutrient deficiencies.
Methods: Participants (n=3,407) were recruited between 2015-23 from a northeast, public university for an ongoing cross-sectional study. Gender, age, athlete status and physical activity were reported via online questionnaire. Three-day food records were used to calculate energy and nutrient intake. Anthropometrics including height, weight, body composition, as well as bone mineral status (CUBA) were measured in duplicate. Deficiencies were calculated using DRI values. EEE was calculated from vigorous, moderate, and walking activities reported in the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Energy availability (EA) was calculated via the equation (Energy Intake (EI) - Exercising Energy Expenditure (EEE)) / Fat Free Mass (FFM) (kg); EA was categorized as optimal ( >45 kcal/kg FFM), subclinical, or clinically low ( < 30 kcal/kg FFM).
Results: Fifteen percent (n=443) of participants were characterized as athletes (club or division I varsity); mean EA was lower among athletes vs. nonathletes (17.9±0.7 vs. 21.9±0.3, p< .001). Males were more likely to have optimal EA status vs. females (8.8 vs. 4.7%, p< .001). Most (75.1%) females were categorized as clinically LEA; 20.3% had subclinical LEA. Among men, athletes’ EA was similar to nonathletes (21.1±1.2 vs. 22.2±0.5, p=.4); among females, athletes had lower EA vs. nonathletes (16.22±0.9 vs. 21.7±0.3, p< .001). Males with clinically low EA, were most likely to consume inadequate intakes of potassium, fiber, iron, and vit D (77.1, 94.0, 10.4, and 97.3%, respectively); similarly, females with clinically low EA, were most likely to consume inadequate intakes (81.9, 87.6, 88.3, and 99.5%, respectively). Bone z-scores were higher among athletes vs. non athletes (-.27±.06 vs. -.67±.02, p< .001) but were not different by EA status.
Conclusions: Given the prevalence of LEA within the college's athlete and nonathlete populations, further research and tailored nutritional education is needed for this at-risk population.
Funding Sources: This study was supported by the New Hampshire Agriculture Experiment Station and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch Project 1010738.
