The Influence of Low Energy Availability on Bone Mineral Density and Trabecular Bone Microarchitecture of Pubescent Female Athletes: A Preliminary Study

Nodoka Ikegami, Mina Samukawa, Mikako Sakamaki-Sunaga, Makoto Sugawara, Shizuka Torashima, Tomoya Ishida, Satoshi Kasahara and Harukazu Tohyama
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Nodoka Ikegami: Department of Exercise Physiology, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo 158-8508, Japan
Mina Samukawa: Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
Mikako Sakamaki-Sunaga: Department of Exercise Physiology, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo 158-8508, Japan
Makoto Sugawara: Matsuda Orthopedic Memorial Hospital, Sapporo 001-0018, Japan
Shizuka Torashima: Iwamizawa Campus Arts and Sports Couse, Hokkaido University of Education, Iwamizawa 068-0835, Japan
Tomoya Ishida: Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
Satoshi Kasahara: Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
Harukazu Tohyama: Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-9

Abstract: The influence of low energy availability (LEA) on bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone microarchitecture in pubescent female athletes is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the influence of LEA on BMD and trabecular bone microarchitecture in 21 pubescent female athletes (age, 12–15 years; 11 track and field athletes, 10 gymnasts). We used two indices to assess LEA: energy availability and the percent of ideal body weight. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to obtain total body less head, lumbar spine BMD Z-scores, and lumbar trabecular bone scores (TBS). Pearson’s or Spearman’s correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationship among EA, percent of ideal body weight, and bone parameters. The threshold for statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The percent of ideal body weight was significantly correlated with the BMD Z-scores of the total body less head (r = 0.61; p < 0.01), lumbar spine (r = 0.55; p < 0.01), and lumbar TBS (r = 0.47; p = 0.03). However, energy availability was not correlated with bone parameters. These findings suggest that screening for low ideal body weight may be a useful predictor of low BMD and insufficient trabecular bone microarchitecture in pubescent female athletes.

Keywords: female athlete triad syndrome; relative energy deficiency; adolescent; ideal body weight; cancellous bone (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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