Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, 0806 Oslo, Norway.
Faculty of Health Promotion, Sport and Leisure Studies, University of Iceland, 105 Reykjavik, Iceland.
Nutrients. 2022 Mar 3;14(5):1068. doi: 10.3390/nu14051068.
Low energy availability (LEA) is considered to be the underlying cause of a number of maladaptations in athletes, including impaired physiological function, low bone mineral density (BMD), and hormonal dysfunction. This is collectively referred to as 'Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport' (RED-S). LEA is calculated through assessment of dietary energy intake (EI), exercise energy expenditure (EEE) and fat-free mass (FFM). The incidence of LEA in Paralympic athletes is relatively unknown; however, there are legitimate concerns that Para athletes may be at even higher risk of LEA than able-bodied athletes. Unfortunately, there are numerous issues with the application of LEA assessment tools and the criterion for diagnosis within the context of a Para population. The calculation of EEE, in particular, is limited by a distinct lack of published data that cover a range of impairments and activities. In addition, for several RED-S-related factors, it is difficult to distinguish whether they are truly related to LEA or a consequence of the athlete's impairment and medical history. This narrative review outlines deficits and complexities when assessing RED-S and LEA in Para athletes, presents the information that we do have, and provides suggestions for future progress in this important area of sports nutrition.
低能量状态（LEA）被认为是运动员多种适应不良的根本原因，包括生理功能受损、骨矿物质密度（BMD）降低和激素功能障碍。这些被统称为“运动相关的能量不足”（RED-S）。LEA 通过评估饮食能量摄入（EI）、运动能量消耗（EEE）和去脂体重（FFM）来计算。残奥会运动员的 LEA 发病率尚不清楚；然而，人们有理由担心残疾运动员的 LEA 风险可能比健全运动员更高。不幸的是，在残疾人群体中应用 LEA 评估工具和诊断标准存在许多问题。特别是 EEE 的计算受到缺乏涵盖各种损伤和活动的已发表数据的限制。此外，对于几个 RED-S 相关因素，很难区分它们是否真的与 LEA 相关，还是运动员损伤和病史的结果。本叙述性综述概述了在评估残疾运动员的 RED-S 和 LEA 时存在的缺陷和复杂性，介绍了我们目前所掌握的信息，并为该领域的运动营养提供了未来进展的建议。
