Changes in hematological, physiological and menstrual status with training in elite female middle distance runners
Date
1989
Authors
King, Michael John
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Abstract
In order to describe the relationships between maximal aerobic power(V02max), performance tests(PT), training volume (TRIMPS), and menstrual function, nine elite female middle distance runners(V02max=58.2,±_5.7 ml.kg-1.min-l)from the University of Victoria volunteered to participate in a (9) week training study. Mean absolute V02max increased 5.4% from 3.2 l.min-1 to 3.5 l.min-1 (p<0.01) as did mean relative V02max which increased 7.0% from 58.2 ml.kg-1.min-1 to 63.6 ml.kg-1.min-1 (p<0.01). Post hoc Cluster Analysis identified (3) menstrual function groups, the amenorrheic (AM n=2), the oligomenorrheic (OM n=2) and the eumenorrheic (EU n=5). A fourth group, menstrual dysfunction (MD n=4) was formed for statistical purposes by collapsing the AM and OM groups together.
No relationship occurred between the hematological variables, hemoglobin (HG), hematocrit (HCT), serum iron (SI), iron binding capacity (IBC), percent saturation of transferrin (%SAT), serum ferritin (FER) and the training volume performed (TRIMPS), or between PT and TRIMPS.
HG and HCT and PT scores were significantly correlated (p<0.05) with VO2max and significant correlations (p<0.05) did occur between HG and SI and the number of kilocalories (KCALS) consumed on the nutritional survey (NUTR).
Menstrual dysfunction(MD) was associated with the hematological variables. Mean levels for HG, HCT, SI, IBC, %SAT and FER were higher in the OM and AM groups when compared to the EU group. And the MD group demonstrated significantly higher (p<0.05) mean FER levels than the EU group as well as higher VO2max scores, faster PT times and completed more TRIMPS than the EU athletes.
Mean FER levels significantly deteriorated (p<0.05) over the (3) sample times (77.0+27.7, 65.3+31.0, 62.3+24.6 ug.litre-1). It was also demonstrated that AM athletes consumed fewer mean KCALS, while female middle distance runners in this study ingested more iron from supplements than through natural food sources.