Dietary intakes of eumenorrheic, oligomenorrheic, and amenorrheic endurance-trained runners and cyclists

• Main Author: Mier, Constance, 1959-
• Other Authors: Bunt, Joy C.
• Language: en_US
• Published: The University of Arizona. 1989
• Subjects: Menstruation disorders.; Women athletes > Physiology.; Women > Nutrition.
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10150/276999

Specific dietary intakes were compared by menstrual status among endurance-trained athletes categorized as either eumenorrheic (EU) (N = 11), oligomenorrheic (OL) (N = 4) or amenorrheic (AM) (N = 5). It was hypothesized that nutrient intakes among endurance-trained women would be significantly different based on menstrual status. No significant differences in nutrient intakes were found among groups. The OL and the AM groups were significantly (p ≤ .05) younger than the EU group and the AM group had a significantly higher percent body fat when estimated by hydrostatic weighing (PFHW) than the EU group. Further comparisons of nutrient intakes were made between EU (N = 10) and AM (N = 4) runners. Zinc intake was significantly lower in the AM runners as compared to the EU runners. The AM runners were also significantly younger and had significantly higher PFHW than the EU runners. In conclusion, energy nutrient intakes appeared to not be significant factors in menstrual status. However, zinc intake was significantly lower (p ≤ .05) in AM runners as compared to EU runners.