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Body composition and serum lipids in female runners: influence of exercise level and menstrual bleeding pattern
Author(s) -
HETLAND M. L.,
HAARBO J.,
CHRISTIANSEN C.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2362.1995.tb01745.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , composition (language) , blood lipids , amenorrhea , fat mass , menstrual cycle , body mass index , chemistry , hormone , cholesterol , biology , pregnancy , philosophy , linguistics , genetics
. The impact of running and menstrual disturbances on regional and total body fat distribution and serum lipids was investigated in 205 women. Body composition was measured by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. The total fat mass in the elite runners was approximately half of the normally active's (7.3 [0.48] kg vs. 14.3 [0.49] kg, P < 0.001) (mean [SEM]). The difference was most pronounced in the abdomen (fat percentage 9.7 [0.85]% vs. 22.0 [0.88]%, P <0.001). The elite runners tended to have a more favourable lipid profile than the normally active (NS). A significant relation was found between lipoproteins and body fatness. In comparison with the regularly menstruating runners ( n = 93), the 13 runners with amenorrhea tended to have less body fat and slightly less favourable lipid profiles (NS). In conclusion, regular exercise was associated with a low abdominal fat percentage, which may affect cardiovascular risk beneficially. Running‐associated menstrual dysfunctions were not significantly related to a specific body composition or serum lipid profile.