Low Energy Availability and Cardiovascular Disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The cardiovascular implications of low energy availability in female athletes
IRAS ID
328540
Contact name
Liam Pope
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Liverpool Hope University
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Low energy availability (LEA) occurs when the body lacks sufficient energy required for essential physiological functions, often exacerbated by the energy demands of sports and exercise (Wasserfurth et al., 2020; Areta, Taylor and Koehler, 2021). This state can lead to various negative health consequences, affecting hormones, metabolism, and physiology (De Souza et al., 2014; Mountjoy et al., 2018). Recent research has explored cardiovascular health markers in connection with LEA, revealing associations with cardiovascular risk factors (Melin et al., 2015; Hoch et al., 2011; Christensen, 2019; Purdom et al., 2023; Ackerman et al., 2019). Further research using more extensive cardiovascular disease (CVD) markers is necessary to gain a comprehensive understanding of the CVD implications of LEA (Black et al., 2018).
A novel approach to better understanding the CVD implications of LEA involves integrating DNA methylation, lipidomic and metabolomics analyses. DNA methylation, an epigenetic modification influencing gene expression by tagging specific parts of the DNA code, is a key factor linked to cardiovascular diseases (Krolevets et al., 2023). Additionally, lipidomic profiling and metabolomics are useful tools for investigating novel biomarkers and mechanisms of CVD (Kohno et al., 2018; Iliou et al., 2021). Despite their relevance, no prior investigation has explored the interplay of all of these together on CVD and LEA. Therefore, this study aims to fill this gap by examining the cardiovascular risk factors associated with LEA in trained to elite female athletes. The research will assess demographic factors, body composition, reproductive health, hormone balance, DNA methylation, energy intake and energy expenditure. Additionally, employ DNA methylation, lipidomic and metabolomic analysis. Moreover, it will compare high-risk LEA athletes with low-risk LEA counterparts to provide a more comprehensive understanding of LEA's impact on cardiovascular health and the biological mechanisms involved.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/NW/0227
Date of REC Opinion
26 Aug 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion