Endothelial Function In High School Female Rhythmic Gymnasts

Abstract

PURPOSE: Endothelial function is associated with progression of atherosclerosis and its dysfunction predicts development of coronary heart diseases. Previous studies have reported that the endothelial function is suppressed in adult female athletes (runner and dancer) with female athlete triad including energy availability, menstrual status and bone health. However, no studies have examined the endothelial function in high school female rhythmic gymnasts, high risk group for the female athlete triad. The aim of present study was to determine the effects of eating disorder, mood states and menstrual status on endothelial function in female high-school rhythmic gymnasts. METHODS: Twenty-three high school female rhythmic gymnasts (age; 16.4±0.9 years, mean±SD) who participate in national tournament for high school students in Japan participated in a cross-sectional study. Endothelial function was determined as flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) measured by high frequency ultrasound in the brachial artery. Subjects completed the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), which is a standard screening tool of eating disorder (ED) risk. Profile of Mood States (POMS) was used to estimate mood states. Menstrual disorder was defined as the status including oligomenorrhea, secondary amenorrhea and delayed puberty. RESULTS: There were no relationship between body composition (BMI and %fat) and normalized %FMD (relative peak diameter increase normalized to the area under the curve of share rate with hyperemia). The prevalence of ED among the subjects (EAT-26 scores ≥20) were 30% (n=7). The normalized %FMD of the subject with ED (0.091±0.034, A.U.) was significantly lower than that of subjects without ED (0.159±0.062, A.U.). The normalized %FMD was negatively correlated with scores of EAT-26 (r=-0.51, p<0.05). There was also significant negative correlation between the normalized %FMD and score of “Anger-Hostility (A-H)” of POMS (r=-0.42, p<0.05). Menstrual dysfunction was in 19.3%, but there were no difference in normalized %FMD, scores of EAT-26 and POMs between subjects with normal or disordered menstrual status. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of eating disorder and negative mood state but not presence of menstrual disorder may be involved in impaired endothelial function in high school female rhythmic gymnasts.