Female athlete triad coalition cumulative risk assessment tool: Proposed alternative scoring strategies

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Abstract

We (i) identified alternative scoring strategies for the Female Athlete Triad Coalition cumulative risk assessment (CRA) tool to be utilized when particular risk factors (bone mineral density (BMD), oligomenorrhea/amenorrhea) cannot be deter-mined; (ii) objectively defined dietary restriction for use in the CRA tool; and (iii) explored proxy measures of energy deficiency. This cross-sectional investigation of exercising women (n=166) utilized an existing database derived from multiple studies designed to assess health, exercise, and menstrual function. Data from the screening/baseline period of each study included: Anthropometrics, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, disordered eating questionnaires, descriptive data, and proxy measures of energy deficiency (total triiodothyronine (TT3) and ratio of measured-to-predicted resting metabolic rate (mRMR/pRMR)). Substituting delayed menarche for BMD was the best-fit replacement resulting in 15 (9%) participants being categorized in different clearance categories. When menstrual status cannot be assessed, such as during hormonal contraceptive use, low energy availability (EA) determined using self-report and disordered eating questionnaires was the best substitution, resulting in 34 (20%) participants being categorized in different clearance categories. Based on original clearance categorizations, the provisional group had lower TT3 (78.3±2.2 ng/dL; 92.7±2.7 ng/dL) and Harris-Benedict mRMR/pRMR (0.85±0.01; 0.90±0.01) than the full group. Until an updated risk assessment tool is developed, delayed menarche can substitute for low BMD and low EA for oligomenorrhea/amenorrhea. Novelty • This investigation addresses previous limitations of the Triad CRA tool. • Disordered eating questionnaires can be used to objectively identify dietary restriction for the low EA risk factor. • When a risk factor cannot be assessed, delayed menarche can substitute for low BMD and low EA for oligomenorrhea/amenorrhea.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1324-1331
Number of pages8
JournalApplied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism
Volume45
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Physiology
  • Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Physiology (medical)

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