Cited by 122Sports Performance and TrainingMuscle metabolism and nutritionMenstrual Health and Disorders

Recommendations and Nutritional Considerations for Female Athletes: Health and Performance

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Holtzman, Bryan, Ackerman, Kathryn E.·2021·Sports Medicine

Abstract

Optimal nutrition is an important aspect of an athlete’s preparation to achieve optimal health and performance. While general concepts about micro- and macronutrients and timing of food and fluids are addressed in sports science, rarely are the specific effects of women’s physiology on energy and fluid needs highly considered in research or clinical practice. Women differ from men not only in size, but in body composition and hormonal milieu, and also differ from one another. Their monthly hormonal cycles, with fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone, have varying effects on metabolism and fluid retention. Such cycles can change from month to month, can be suppressed with exogenous hormones, and may even be manipulated to capitalize on ideal timing for performance. But before such physiology can be manipulated, its relationship with nutrition and performance must be understood. This review will address general concepts regarding substrate metabolism in women versus men, common menstrual patterns of female athletes, nutrient and hydration needs during different phases of the menstrual cycle, and health and performance issues related to menstrual cycle disruption. We will discuss up-to-date recommendations for fueling female athletes, describe areas that require further exploration, and address methodological considerations to inform future work in this important area.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s40279-021-01508-8

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  • To determine energy availability, the calculation requires accurately measured fat-free mass, energy intake, and exercise energy expenditure of the athlete, in which errors of validity and reliability will undoubtedly occur.

    “To determine the EA, the calculation requires accurately measured FFM, EI and exercise EE of the athlete, in which errors of validity and reliability will undoubtedly occur [150].”

    From International society of sports nutrition position stand: nutritional concerns of the female athlete (2023) · cites this paper as [150]

    The RED-S section (page not available in our copy) defines energy availability using energy intake, exercise energy expenditure, and fat-free mass, and says quantification outside the lab can be difficult. It does not say that validity and reliability errors will undoubtedly occur. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Established energy availability thresholds may not be appropriate for reducing the risk of LEA in aging women due to changing estrogen and progesterone ratios in perimenopause, their absence in menopause, and known biological effects on resting metabolic rate and body composition.

    “Established EA thresholds may not be appropriate for reducing the risk of LEA in aging women due to the changing ratios of estrogen and progesterone in perimenopause, the subsequent absence of estrogen and progesterone in menopause and the known biological impact on resting metabolic rate and body composition [150].”

    From International society of sports nutrition position stand: nutritional concerns of the female athlete (2023) · cites this paper as [150]

    The RED-S section says that no universal binary energy-availability threshold probably exists, supporting caution about established thresholds. The Health Consequences section also links low energy availability with reduced resting metabolic rate. Neither passage addresses whether thresholds are appropriate specifically for aging women or attributes that concern to hormonal changes in perimenopause and menopause and their effects on body composition. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Reduced muscle glycogen causes muscular fatigue and a drop in intensity below 60% VO2max.

    “Reduced CHO availability is disadvantageous to exercise performance due to the following pathways: (1) reduced muscle glycogen causes muscular fatigue and a drop in intensity (<60% VO2max), and (2) reduced circulating CHO (e.g., blood glucose) for central neural nourishment impairs cognition [5].”

    From Considerations of Low Carbohydrate Availability (LCA) to Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) in Female Endurance Athletes: A Narrative Review (2023) · cites this paper as [5]

    The Carbohydrate subsection of Nutritional Strategies for Endurance Athletes says reduced muscle glycogen leads to fatigue and a drop in intensity. It does not specify that intensity drops below 60% VO2max; its nearby VO2max figure concerns a different point about gluconeogenesis. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Women's lower CHO oxidation can significantly limit performance in exercise lasting <90 min.

    “This is important to consider as it can significantly limit performance in exercise lasting < 90 min in duration [5].”

    From Considerations of Low Carbohydrate Availability (LCA) to Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) in Female Endurance Athletes: A Narrative Review (2023) · cites this paper as [5]

    The Nutritional Strategies for Endurance Athletes section says women oxidize less carbohydrate than men at the same relative exercise intensity and that metabolic clearance can significantly limit exercise lasting under 90 minutes. It does not say that women’s lower carbohydrate oxidation is itself the limiting factor; it instead says fully replenished glycogen stores are sufficient to maximize performance in such events. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The current acute recommendation for carbohydrate intake for 4-6 h following a glycogen-depleting exercise session is at least 1.2 g carbohydrate/kg body weight/h.

    “the current acute recommendation for CHO intake for 4–6 h following a glycogen-depleting exercise session is ≥1.2 g CHO/kg BW/h [5].”

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [62]Melin ATÅB Skouby S Faber J Ritz C Sjödin A Sundgot-Borgen J The LEAF questionnaire: a screening tool for the identification of female athletes at risk for the female athlete triad Br J Sports Med 2014 48 540 545 10.1136/bjsports-2013-093240 24563388 · DOI · Paper page
  2. [133]Casanova R Chaung A Goepfert AR Hueppchen NA Weiss PM Beckmann CR Beckmann and Ling’s obstetrics and gynecology 2019 8 Philadelphia Wolters Kluwer

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Authors
Holtzman, B., & Ackerman, K. E.
Affiliations
Boston Children's Hospital (US)
Corresponding author
Ackerman, Kathryn E.
Venue
Sports Medicine
Published
2021-09
Volume
51
Issue
S1
Pages
43-57
ISSN
  • 0112-1642 (ISSN-L)
  • 1179-2035
OpenAlex
W3201155639
Cited by
111
References
145
Citations by year
2026: 20 · 2025: 31 · 2024: 35 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 1
FWCI
3.20
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Sports Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Gatorade Sports Science Institute
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Menstrual Health and Disorders
Keywords
female athletes, female athlete triad, menstrual cycle, menstrual cycle disruption, hydration, macronutrient requirements, estrogen and progesterone, body composition, menstrual suppression, sports nutrition, athletic performance
MeSH terms
Female, Humans, Menstrual Cycle, Sports, Exercise, Athletes, Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena

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