Male Runners With Lower Energy Availability Have Impaired Skeletal Integrity Compared to Nonathletes.

CONTEXT:Female athletes, particularly runners, with insufficient caloric intake for their energy expenditure [low energy availability (EA) or relative energy deficiency] are at risk for impaired skeletal integrity. Data are lacking in male runners. OBJECTIVE:To determine whether male runners at risk for energy deficit have impaired bone mineral density (BMD), microarchitecture, and estimated strength. DESIGN:Cross-sectional. SETTING:Clinical research center. PARTICIPANTS:39 men (20 runners, 19 controls), ages 16-30 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Areal BMD (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry); tibia and radius volumetric BMD and microarchitecture (high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography); failure load (microfinite element analysis); serum testosterone, estradiol, leptin; energy availability. RESULTS:Mean age (24.5 ± 3.8 y), lean mass, testosterone, and estradiol levels were similar; body mass index, percent fat mass, leptin, and lumbar spine BMD Z-score (-1.4 ± 0.8 vs -0.8 ± 0.8) lower (P < .05); and calcium intake and running mileage higher (P ≤ .01) in runners vs controls. Runners with EA 更多