Female Athlete Triad and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs): Nutritional Management
The female athlete triad (TRIAD) is a spectrum of disorders involving low energy availability (LEA), low bone mineral density, and menstrual disorders. It is increasingly common to use the term ‘relative energy deficiency in sport’ (RED), emphasising the extensive impact of LEA on the body. The aim...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/3/359 |
| _version_ | 1797318393134579712 |
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| author | Monika Grabia Jakub Perkowski Katarzyna Socha Renata Markiewicz-Żukowska |
| author_facet | Monika Grabia Jakub Perkowski Katarzyna Socha Renata Markiewicz-Żukowska |
| author_sort | Monika Grabia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The female athlete triad (TRIAD) is a spectrum of disorders involving low energy availability (LEA), low bone mineral density, and menstrual disorders. It is increasingly common to use the term ‘relative energy deficiency in sport’ (RED), emphasising the extensive impact of LEA on the body. The aim of this narrative review was to gather original research encompassing female athletes across various sports as well as to collect findings on the potential of a nutrition-focused approach to prevent or treat the aforementioned disorders. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus. Several challenges were identified regarding the adequacy of the energy availability, protein, and carbohydrate requirements in the diets of female athletes. Moreover, insufficient intake of vitamin D has been observed across all athlete groups studied. This insufficiency also extends to the average requirement for Ca, Mg, the Ca/P ratio, Zn, and Fe. To address those concerns, a nutritional approach is proposed in the latter part of this review. The factors that can improve the absorption of micronutrients have also been discussed. The TRIAD/REDs affect an ever-growing number of women and require appropriate therapeutic management, particularly through nutritional care. Therefore, cooperation within an interdisciplinary team comprising a physician, nutritionist, physiotherapist, and psychologist is crucial. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:52:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d2e3a88c5ce94068815a900582e7492e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:52:10Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-d2e3a88c5ce94068815a900582e7492e2024-02-09T15:19:42ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432024-01-0116335910.3390/nu16030359Female Athlete Triad and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs): Nutritional ManagementMonika Grabia0Jakub Perkowski1Katarzyna Socha2Renata Markiewicz-Żukowska3Department of Bromatology, Faculty of Pharmacy with the Division of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Białystok, 2D Mickiewicza Street, 15-222 Białystok, PolandDepartment of Bromatology, Faculty of Pharmacy with the Division of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Białystok, 2D Mickiewicza Street, 15-222 Białystok, PolandDepartment of Bromatology, Faculty of Pharmacy with the Division of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Białystok, 2D Mickiewicza Street, 15-222 Białystok, PolandDepartment of Bromatology, Faculty of Pharmacy with the Division of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Białystok, 2D Mickiewicza Street, 15-222 Białystok, PolandThe female athlete triad (TRIAD) is a spectrum of disorders involving low energy availability (LEA), low bone mineral density, and menstrual disorders. It is increasingly common to use the term ‘relative energy deficiency in sport’ (RED), emphasising the extensive impact of LEA on the body. The aim of this narrative review was to gather original research encompassing female athletes across various sports as well as to collect findings on the potential of a nutrition-focused approach to prevent or treat the aforementioned disorders. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus. Several challenges were identified regarding the adequacy of the energy availability, protein, and carbohydrate requirements in the diets of female athletes. Moreover, insufficient intake of vitamin D has been observed across all athlete groups studied. This insufficiency also extends to the average requirement for Ca, Mg, the Ca/P ratio, Zn, and Fe. To address those concerns, a nutritional approach is proposed in the latter part of this review. The factors that can improve the absorption of micronutrients have also been discussed. The TRIAD/REDs affect an ever-growing number of women and require appropriate therapeutic management, particularly through nutritional care. Therefore, cooperation within an interdisciplinary team comprising a physician, nutritionist, physiotherapist, and psychologist is crucial.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/3/359female athlete triadrelative energy deficiencyenergy availabilitybone mineral densitymenstrual disordersnutrition |
| spellingShingle | Monika Grabia Jakub Perkowski Katarzyna Socha Renata Markiewicz-Żukowska Female Athlete Triad and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs): Nutritional Management Nutrients female athlete triad relative energy deficiency energy availability bone mineral density menstrual disorders nutrition |
| title | Female Athlete Triad and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs): Nutritional Management |
| title_full | Female Athlete Triad and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs): Nutritional Management |
| title_fullStr | Female Athlete Triad and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs): Nutritional Management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Female Athlete Triad and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs): Nutritional Management |
| title_short | Female Athlete Triad and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs): Nutritional Management |
| title_sort | female athlete triad and relative energy deficiency in sport reds nutritional management |
| topic | female athlete triad relative energy deficiency energy availability bone mineral density menstrual disorders nutrition |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/3/359 |
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