Reduced resting metabolic rate in athletes with menstrual disorders

Purpose: This study investigated metabolic and nutritional determinants in association with menstrual disorders in athletes. Athletes with normal mens trual function (AN; N = 21) and athletes with menstrual disorders (AD; N = 12) participated in this study. Methods: The quality of the menstrual cycle was judged according to salivary progesterone concentrations. Resting meta bolic rate (RMR) and diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) were measured by indi rect calorimetry. Body composition, energy intake and restrained eating sco res were obtained. Results: When adjusted for body composition by ANCOVA, R MR was significantly (similar to 460 kJ, P < 0.02) lower in athletes with m enstrual disorders than in athletes without menstrual disorders. The DIT an d the daily energy intake of the groups did not differ. Athletes with menst rual disturbances scored significantly higher on the Restraint Eating Scale (TFEQ). Thyroid hormones (fT(3) and fT(4)), analyzed by a competitive chem iluminescent immunoassay, were in the normal range and not different betwee n groups. Conclusions: The results provide evidence that restrained eating and low RMR are associated with menstrual cycle disturbances in athletes.