Reducing energy availability in male endurance athletes: a randomized trial with a three-step energy reduction

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Analysis showed that most of the negative effects occurred in the range of 9-25 kCal·kg∙FFM·d⁻¹. This is the range where we suggest a threshold for LEA in men could be. Reducing EA impaired explosive power first, then endurance. It was associated with a reduction in testosterone, triiodothyronine and there was a tendency for reduced IGF-1, but hormones were more resilient to changes in EA. Psychological assessment of eating behaviors and well-being proved to be very useful, whereas monitoring resting energy expenditure did not.