title: Testosterone concentrations in female athletes and ballet dancers with menstrual disorders.
abstract: Menstrual disorders are common among female athletes and ballet dancers. Endocrine changes, such as high testosterone (HT) levels and high luteinizing hormone (LH)/follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ratios, may suggest functional ovarian hyperandrogenism which may induce such dysfunction. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate endocrine status in female athletes and ballet dancers with menstrual disorders. Their nutritional status and dietary habits were analysed in relation to the testosterone levels. In a cross-sectional approach, 31 female athletes (18.1 ± 2.6 years) and 21 ballerinas (17.1 ± 0.9) with menstrual disorders participated in the study. The levels of serum LH, FSH, progesterone (P), estradiol (E2), prolactin (PRL), thyroid-stimulating hormone, testosterone (T) and sex hormone-binding globulinwere measured to assess hormonal status. In addition, the free androgen index (FAI) was calculated. Nutritional status, total daily energy expenditure and nutritional habits were evaluated. Girls were assigned to one of the following groups: low testosterone (LT) level, normal testosterone level or HT level. There were significant differences between ballerinas and other female athletes in terms of testosterone levels, FAI, age at the beginning of training, length of training period and age at menarche. The PRL level was lowest in the LT group while the FAI index was highest in the HT group. Daily energy and carbohydrate intakes were significantly lower in the HT group. T levels in the study subjects were found to be associated with nutritional factors, energy availability, age at the beginning of training and frequency of training. This is the first report of HT levels being associated with the status of a female ballet dancer, the age of menarche and the length of the training history. Further research is necessary to confirm the results in a larger study group.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Nutrition and Hygiene, Dietetic Division , Poznan University of Life Sciences , Poznań , Poland.
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Łagowska
authors.affiliation: b Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, Division of Gynecology , Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences , Poznań , Poland.
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kapczuk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003615:Dancing; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000097:blood*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D064133:Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin
keywords: Body composition; health; metabolism; nutrition