The implication of the binomial nutrition-immunity on sportswomen's health

Abstract

The diet of many athletes is inadequate due to overly restrictive habits and an obsession with losing weight in order to maintain a particular level of body weight. Many female athletes, particularly those who participate in sports that emphasize leanness (gymnastics, distance running, diving, figure skating and classical ballet), have suboptimal energy and nutrient intakes and are at risk of compromised nutritional status, including fatigue, dehydration, nutrient inadequacies, delayed growth and an impaired immunocompetence. It is very well known that active women and girls who are driven to excel in sports may develop the so-called female athlete triad in which malnutrition, amenorrhoea and osteoporosis appear as typical signs of medical complications, frequently linked to serious psychological alterations. This outcome is mainly related to that found in eating disorders -syndromes in which athletes have been defined to be at increased risk. As a consequence of all these alterations, the immune system may be affected in athletes, and subsequently they might be more prone to infections. As there is a lack of knowledge about how the immune system may be affected in basal conditions of athletes, the study of immunocompetence as an index of the nutritional status is reviewed. In summary, it is necessary to encourage all professionals surrounding athletes to be aware of the importance of taking care of their nutritional status in order not only to avoid physical and psychological complications but also to improve performance and, thus, to achieve sporting goals.

The Cardiovascular Effects of Chronic Hypoestrogenism in Amenorrhoeic Athletes

“…Consequences of a low calorie diet together with strenuous exercise stress may induce elevated IL-6 and cortisol levels in female athletes [258]. The nutrient status of the AM athlete frequently reveals suboptimal energy and nutrient intake which is linked with compromised immune responses [258], although data show no relation between susceptibility to infections and menstrual status in recreationally active women [259].…”

“…The nutrient status of the AM athlete frequently reveals suboptimal energy and nutrient intake which is linked with compromised immune responses [258], although data show no relation between susceptibility to infections and menstrual status in recreationally active women [259]. Since cytokine levels, particularly IL-6, increase with strenuous endurance activities [260], this finding suggests that exercise intensity and duration rather than menstrual status impacts the immune response.…”

Nutrition, Illness, and Injury in Aquatic Sports

“…This situation is more relevant to synchronized swimming and diving, two sports in which the importance of aesthetic appearance is more prominent. The consequences of inadequate caloric intake may include compromised nutritional status, fatigue, dehydration, delayed growth, impaired tissue repair and immune function (Montero et al, 2002), menstrual dysfunction (Thein-Nissenbaum et al, 2011), higher psychological stress and risk of illness (Hagmar et al, 2013), and increased risk of injury (Thein-Nissenbaum et al, 2011).…”

“…It only seems logical and sensible that inadequate caloric intake may impair tissue repair (Montero et al, 2002). The question, however, of which type of calories are required to optimize tissue recovery remains unanswered.…”

Ernährung im Ausdauersport

“…Eine suboptimale Nährstoff-versorgung von Athletinnen und Athleten kann zu Erschöpfungs-zuständen (z. B. Überlastungs-, Übertrainingssyndrom), beeinträchtigter Immunfunktion, Dehydratation und Hormonstörun-gen führen [15,16]. Hypokalorische Kost, die mit einer ungenü-genden Kohlenhydrat-und Proteinzufuhr einhergeht, wirkt sich zudem nachteilig auf die Regenerationsfähigkeit des Skelettmuskels aus [17,18].…”