2011 Volume 62 Issue 1 Pages 44-55
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships among nutritional intake, body fat percentage and situation of sexual hormone secretion in female athletes, as well as their effects on the athletes' neutrophil immune function.
A total of 51 female university athletes participated in the present study. Out of 51 athletes, 15 of them were gymnasts, 17 long-distance runners, and 19 judoists. We investigated the body composition, nutritional intake, menstrual situation, blood biochemistry and serum opsonic activity (SOA).
In the present study, % fat and total energy intake was lower in gymnasts than long-distance runners and judoists. Additionally, the prevalence of menstrual abnormality was highest in gymnasts, followed by long-distance runners and judoists, suggesting that lower % fat is a risk factor for menstrual abnormality. On the other hand, body fat percentage, total energy intake and fat intake were found to have a significant positive correlation with SOA.
Hence, the stress arising from training and diet restriction as well as decrease in body fat mass was found to cause reduced immune function through decreased HPG functions. The extent of this decrease was affected by total energy intake especially fat intake and body fat mass of athletes.
