None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) is a condition that can occur when athletes do not consume enough energy to support their training and the body's normal functions. REDs can affect health, performance, recovery, hormones, and bone health. This study will evaluate and compare a range of existing and emerging tools used to identify athletes at risk of REDs. Participants will complete questionnaires, dietary assessments, body composition measurements, blood tests, imaging scans, and physical performance assessments during a single study visit. The findings will help determine which tools are most useful for accurately identifying REDs in athletes.
Interventions
This observational study will evaluate the performance of existing and emerging screening and diagnostic tools used to identify Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). Participants will complete a range of assessments on a single occasion, allowing comparison of currently used diagnostic approaches with newer proposed tools.
- Risk of and presence of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) among athletes.
- Participants will be observed and assessed at a single time point. No follow-up as
This observational study will evaluate the performance of existing and emerging screening and diagnostic tools used to identify Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). Participants will complete a range of assessments on a single occasion, allowing comparison of currently used diagnostic approaches with newer proposed tools. - Risk of and presence of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) among athletes. - Participants will be observed and assessed at a single time point. No follow-up assessments will be conducted. Questionnaires: 4-day food diary, Low energy availability in females/males questionnaire (LEAF–Q or LEAM-Q) (currently used in the IOC CAT2), Eating Disorder examination questionnaire (EDE-Q) (CAT2), Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male (ADAM-Q) (emerging), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (emerging), Medical history (CAT2), Menstrual phase (females) (CAT2), Modified Visual Analog Scale Gut symptoms tool (emerging). (45-60 mins) Anthropometry - Height, weight, fat free mass, fat mass, skeletal muscle mass, total body water (MBIA) (10 mins). Resting metabolic rate (60 mins). Venous blood sampling - 1 x Heparin, EDTA & silica clot – 18ml total. Testing - testosterone (CAT2), oestrogen (emerging), IGF-1 (emerging), cortisol (emerging), T3/T4 (CAT2), P1NP (emerging), CTX (emerging), phosphatase (emerging), CRP (emerging), hepcidin (emerging), LH/FSH (emerging), cytokines (emerging), REDD1 (emerging), plasma osmolality, FBC, plasma SCFA (emerging), IFAB (emerging). Capillary blood sample for glucose (emerging). (10 mins) Full body dexa scan - body composition (emerging) (20 mins) Performance and strength testing - VO2 max, Sprint testing 10m & 5m return, Dual tasking test (cognitive & performance), Counter movement jump, hand grip strength, full body squat pull, single leg hop (~60 mins). (all emerging) Advanced imaging - HRpQCT (radius & tibia) assess bone density, pQCT (quadriceps) assess muscle density (~30 mins) (all emerging) Study coordinator will be administering all tests, total duration 5-6 hours, expected all tests to occur on 1 day face to face. The intention is for the results to be used as guidelines for by Sports Dietitians and Sports Physicians to be able to diagnose REDs more easily. The study is not diagnosing participants with REDs. Participants who appear to be at risk will be directed to their medical professional for further diagnosis and treatment. All tools are pre-existing that are being investigated for a new application.
Sponsors
BASE Facility, Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
15 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Male and female athletes aged 15 years or older who participate in regular sport training and/or competition and are willing and able to complete all study assessments, including questionnaires, dietary assessment, blood sampling, imaging, metabolic testing, and exercise/performance testing.
Exclusion criteria
Participants will be excluded if they are pregnant or breastfeeding; have an injury or medical condition that limits exercise participation; have a chronic endocrine, metabolic, or bone disorder; have an acute illness or infection; are taking medications known to affect hormonal, metabolic, or bone health; do not meet exercise testing safety requirements; or are unable or unwilling to complete the required questionnaires, dietary records, and testing procedures.
Outcome results
None listed