From semi-starvation to the stage: a case report on indicators of low energy availability in a drug-free bodybuilder during contest preparation and peak week
Natural bodybuilding competitions involve periods of low energy availability (EA) combined with resistance training and high-protein diets to achieve extreme leanness. This study tracked a drug-free bodybuilder adopting evidence-based nutrition practices during 18 weeks of contest preparation. We me...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-11-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1465001/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850192220876963840 |
|---|---|
| author | Alex J. Ritson Lyle McDonald Joseph Agu Laurent G. Bannock |
| author_facet | Alex J. Ritson Lyle McDonald Joseph Agu Laurent G. Bannock |
| author_sort | Alex J. Ritson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Natural bodybuilding competitions involve periods of low energy availability (EA) combined with resistance training and high-protein diets to achieve extreme leanness. This study tracked a drug-free bodybuilder adopting evidence-based nutrition practices during 18 weeks of contest preparation. We measured endocrine function, resting energy expenditure, respiratory exchange ratio, body composition, resting heart rate, oral temperature, mood, and strength performance. Endocrine function was remeasured after 2 days of energy repletion. From baseline to week 18, free triiodothyronine (T3) and total testosterone (TT) fell into clinically low (2.7 pmol/L−1) and sub-clinically low (9.1 nmol/L−1) ranges. Resting energy expenditure decreased by −519 kcal (REEratio 0.78), and respiratory exchange ratio decreased from 0.95 to 0.85. Body mass reduced by −5.1 kg, with a sum of eight skinfold loss of −15.7 mm. Correlations were observed between body mass and decreases in oral temperature (r = 0.674, p = 0.002) and resting heart rate (r = 0.560, p = 0.016). Mood remained stable until the final 2 weeks and relative one-repetition maximum decreased in the squat (−5.4%), bench (−2.6%), and deadlift (−3.6%). Following 2 days of modest energy repletion, free T3 increased (18.5%), returning to sub-clinically low values (3.2 pmol/L−1), whereas TT fell (−20.9%), reaching clinically low values (7.2 nmol/L−1). These results offer insight into the dynamics of T3 and TT following a short-term period of modest energy repletion and further information on indicators of low EA during chronic energy restriction. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d177cd222cd248ee8299af706181ae11 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-861X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-d177cd222cd248ee8299af706181ae112025-08-20T02:14:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2024-11-011110.3389/fnut.2024.14650011465001From semi-starvation to the stage: a case report on indicators of low energy availability in a drug-free bodybuilder during contest preparation and peak weekAlex J. Ritson0Lyle McDonald1Joseph Agu2Laurent G. Bannock3Department of Education, Institute of Performance Nutrition, London, United KingdomBodyrecomposition Ltd., Austin, TX, United StatesSchool of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United KingdomDepartment of Education, Institute of Performance Nutrition, London, United KingdomNatural bodybuilding competitions involve periods of low energy availability (EA) combined with resistance training and high-protein diets to achieve extreme leanness. This study tracked a drug-free bodybuilder adopting evidence-based nutrition practices during 18 weeks of contest preparation. We measured endocrine function, resting energy expenditure, respiratory exchange ratio, body composition, resting heart rate, oral temperature, mood, and strength performance. Endocrine function was remeasured after 2 days of energy repletion. From baseline to week 18, free triiodothyronine (T3) and total testosterone (TT) fell into clinically low (2.7 pmol/L−1) and sub-clinically low (9.1 nmol/L−1) ranges. Resting energy expenditure decreased by −519 kcal (REEratio 0.78), and respiratory exchange ratio decreased from 0.95 to 0.85. Body mass reduced by −5.1 kg, with a sum of eight skinfold loss of −15.7 mm. Correlations were observed between body mass and decreases in oral temperature (r = 0.674, p = 0.002) and resting heart rate (r = 0.560, p = 0.016). Mood remained stable until the final 2 weeks and relative one-repetition maximum decreased in the squat (−5.4%), bench (−2.6%), and deadlift (−3.6%). Following 2 days of modest energy repletion, free T3 increased (18.5%), returning to sub-clinically low values (3.2 pmol/L−1), whereas TT fell (−20.9%), reaching clinically low values (7.2 nmol/L−1). These results offer insight into the dynamics of T3 and TT following a short-term period of modest energy repletion and further information on indicators of low EA during chronic energy restriction.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1465001/fullnatural bodybuildingrelative energy deficiency in sportendocrine functionIOC REDs CAT2case reporttotal testosterone |
| spellingShingle | Alex J. Ritson Lyle McDonald Joseph Agu Laurent G. Bannock From semi-starvation to the stage: a case report on indicators of low energy availability in a drug-free bodybuilder during contest preparation and peak week Frontiers in Nutrition natural bodybuilding relative energy deficiency in sport endocrine function IOC REDs CAT2 case report total testosterone |
| title | From semi-starvation to the stage: a case report on indicators of low energy availability in a drug-free bodybuilder during contest preparation and peak week |
| title_full | From semi-starvation to the stage: a case report on indicators of low energy availability in a drug-free bodybuilder during contest preparation and peak week |
| title_fullStr | From semi-starvation to the stage: a case report on indicators of low energy availability in a drug-free bodybuilder during contest preparation and peak week |
| title_full_unstemmed | From semi-starvation to the stage: a case report on indicators of low energy availability in a drug-free bodybuilder during contest preparation and peak week |
| title_short | From semi-starvation to the stage: a case report on indicators of low energy availability in a drug-free bodybuilder during contest preparation and peak week |
| title_sort | from semi starvation to the stage a case report on indicators of low energy availability in a drug free bodybuilder during contest preparation and peak week |
| topic | natural bodybuilding relative energy deficiency in sport endocrine function IOC REDs CAT2 case report total testosterone |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1465001/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alexjritson fromsemistarvationtothestageacasereportonindicatorsoflowenergyavailabilityinadrugfreebodybuilderduringcontestpreparationandpeakweek AT lylemcdonald fromsemistarvationtothestageacasereportonindicatorsoflowenergyavailabilityinadrugfreebodybuilderduringcontestpreparationandpeakweek AT josephagu fromsemistarvationtothestageacasereportonindicatorsoflowenergyavailabilityinadrugfreebodybuilderduringcontestpreparationandpeakweek AT laurentgbannock fromsemistarvationtothestageacasereportonindicatorsoflowenergyavailabilityinadrugfreebodybuilderduringcontestpreparationandpeakweek |