Materials and Methods

Female endurance athletes (n= 12)(25.9±4.4) years, BMI 20.9±2.1), with symptoms of RED-S (Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire total score 11.9±2.9) without disordered eating behavior, performed a 7-day weighed dietary and training registration (heart rate monitors, online training logs). CHO intake was analyzed for key (high intensity/> 120 min) and easy training sessions (all other sessions> 30 min) as well as hard (including> 1 key session) and light training days (all other days). Mean difference, 95% confidence intervals (CI) not including 0, and a paired student t-test were used to determine differences between CHO intake and international sport nutrition recommendations.

Results

None of the participants met the recommended daily CHO intake [CI-1.7 (-2.4 to-0.9)], or CHO intake immediate after [CI-0.7 (-0.9 to-0.5)], between [CI-1.2 (-2.0 to-0.4)] or during [CI-15.2 (-29.1 to-1.3)] key training sessions. CHO recommendations were more difficult to fulfill during hard compared to light training days (p= 0.014).

Conclusion

Female endurance athletes with symptoms of RED-S have difficulties matching CHO intake in relation to training load according to the recommendations. Hence, to prevent RED-S focus on optimizing CHO intake is needed.