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Energy deficits harm athletes' health, new research tool reveals how
Medical Xpress / Salk Institute / Cell Metabolism ^ | Sept. 4, 2024 | Laura van Rosmalen et al

Posted on 09/08/2024 8:51:35 PM PDT by ConservativeMind

In 2014, the International Olympic Committee named a syndrome affecting many of its athletes: relative energy deficiency in sport, or REDs. It's now estimated that more than 40% of professional athletes have REDs, and the rate could be even higher in recreational athletes and exercisers.

Athletes develop REDs when they consistently expend more energy through their physical activity than they take in through their diet. Over time, this prolonged energy deficit can lead to a wide range of symptoms, including hormonal and reproductive issues, insomnia and fatigue, bone weakness and injury, and a higher risk of anxiety and depression.

Now, researchers have created the landmark mouse model of REDs and are already using it to better understand the syndrome. Their initial investigation revealed that REDs affects organ size and gene expression patterns across the entire body. What's more, this energy deficiency appears to impact male and female mice differently: In males, kidney health was most significantly impacted, while in females, reproductive health and muscle mass were most affected.

The findings identify potential biomarkers to more conclusively diagnose REDs and provide new molecular targets for future therapeutics.

Using this new mouse model, the scientists measured how REDs affects the anatomy and gene expression levels of 19 different organs. Mice with REDs showed significant shrinkage of vital organs, including kidney and reproductive organs, and deterioration of bone quality.

"The recipe for health is not 'eat less food, do more exercise,'" says Panda. "In fact, combining these two independently reasonable habits doesn't seem good if you are already healthy. But so far it seems the solution for REDs is not as simple as increasing caloric intake."

Beyond the scope of athletes, REDs can also affect others with negative energy balances, such as those with eating disorders like anorexia nervosa.

(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: athletes; diet; energydeficits; healthlinks; medicalxpress; red
This appears to be an issue when you don’t have enough fat and you chronically expend more calories than you take in, according to the abstract.

I would suggest from this you get a negative balance when your blood sugar can’t keep up with demands without having to strip nearly all calories from soft, non-fat tissues.

1 posted on 09/08/2024 8:51:35 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
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To: Mazey; ckilmer; goodnesswins; Jane Long; BusterDog; jy8z; ProtectOurFreedom; matthew fuller; ...

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2 posted on 09/08/2024 8:52:07 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: ConservativeMind

3 posted on 09/08/2024 9:32:15 PM PDT by Mount Athos
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To: ConservativeMind

It seems like these researchers have found the perfect justification for obesity and diabetes. Never let your body go into a calorie deficit.

Give those people a Nobel prize pronto.


4 posted on 09/08/2024 10:39:50 PM PDT by MikeHu
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To: ConservativeMind

I knew I needed to exercise less and eat more. Now there’s proof.


5 posted on 09/09/2024 2:29:04 AM PDT by ArcadeQuarters (You can't remove RINOs by voting for them!)
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To: ConservativeMind

Of course this is caused by global warming.


6 posted on 09/09/2024 2:32:08 AM PDT by George J. Jetso
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To: ConservativeMind

Do not maintain ketosis and regular intensive exercise.
You will shutdown your immune system.
Candida can abruptly flare your entire body


7 posted on 09/09/2024 2:50:13 AM PDT by conserv8
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To: conserv8

I suspect that many of the subjects impacted have been too restrictive on their carbs.


8 posted on 09/09/2024 6:15:42 AM PDT by Codeflier (Don't worry....be happ)
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To: ConservativeMind

Who knew? If you don’t eat enough for your exercise level you get tired...


9 posted on 09/09/2024 6:42:03 AM PDT by goodnesswins (DEI....Divide, Enslave, Indoctrinate.....OR ......Didn't Earn It)
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