Free-living competitive racewalkers and runners with energy availability estimates of <35 kcal·kg fat-free mass−1·day−1 exhibit peak serum progesterone concentrations indicative of ovulatory disturbances: a pilot study

Introduction The release of luteinising hormone (LH) before ovulation is disrupted during a state of low energy availability (EA). However, it remains unknown whether a threshold EA exists in athletic populations to trigger ovulatory disturbances (anovulation and luteal phase deficiency) as indicated by peak/mid-luteal serum progesterone concentration (Pk-PRG) during the menstrual cycle. Methods We assessed EA and Pk-PRG in 15 menstrual cycles to investigate the relationship between EA and Pk-PRG in free-living, competitive (trained-elite) Guatemalan racewalkers ( n = 8) and runners ( n = 7) [aged: 20 (14–41) years; post-menarche: 5 (2–26) years; height: 1.53 ± 0.09 m; mass: 49 ± 6 kg (41 ± 5 kg fat-free mass “FFM”)]. EA was estimated over 7 consecutive days within the follicular phase using food, training, and physical activity diaries. A fasted blood sample was collected during the Pk-PRG period, 6–8 days after the LH peak, but before the final 2 days of each cycle. Serum progesterone concentration was quantified using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Results Participants that reported an EA of <35 kcal·kg FFM −1 ·day −1 ( n = 7) exhibited ovulatory disturbances (Pk-PRG ≤9.40 ng·mL −1 ). Athletes with EA ≥36 kcal·kg FFM −1 ·day −1 ( n = 8) recorded “normal”/“potentially fertile” cycles (Pk-PRG >9.40 ng·mL −1 ), except for a single racewalker with the lowest reported protein intake (1.1 g·kg body mass −1 ·day −1 ). EA was positively associated with Pk-PRG [ r (9) = 0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.37–0.94; p = 0.003; 1 − β = 0.99] after excluding participants ( n = 4) that likely under-reported/reduced their dietary intake. Conclusions The result from the linear regression analysis suggests that an EA ≥ 36 kcal·kg FFM −1 ·day −1 is required to achieve “normal ovulation.” The threshold EA associated with ovulatory disturbances in athletes and non-invasive means of monitoring the ovulatory status warrant further research.