Menstrual irregularities, nutritional pattern and mineral intake and excretion of female athletes

Abstract

Seventeen female athletes were divided into two groups. The experimental group consisted of 7 female athletes experiencing irregular menstrual cycles. The control group consisted of 10 female athletes with regular menstrual cycles. A 3-day dietary record was collected from each subject to determine calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and dietary fiber intakes. Twenty four-hour urine samples were collected on the same three days the dietary records were kept. Fasting blood samples were collected to determine plasma estradiol, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and alkaline phosphatase levels. There was no significant difference between the groups in either the serum estradiol, alkaline phosphatase or phosphorus levels. In addition there were no differences in urinary calcium excretions, dietary phosphorus and calcium intakes. However, the eumenorrheic group excreted significantly higher urinary phosphorus than the amenorrheic group. The amenorrheic group had significantly higher serum calcium and magnesium levels and lower percent body fat. Results from this study may support the role of body composition-related factors in the etiology of exercise induced amenorrhea.