0 ± 234.8 1095.9 ± 655.1 < 0.001 Vitamin D (μg) 2.34 ± 1.42 3.01 ± 1.04 0.040 Vitamin E (mg) 9.9 ± 4.2 9.2 ± 3.4 NS Vitamin B1 (mg) 1.20 ± 0.56 1.28 ± 0.26 NS Vitamin B2 (mg) 1.80 ± 0.50 1.72 ± 0.46 NS Niacin (mg) 12.5 ± 4.1 14.3 ± 3.3 NS Vitamin B6 (mg) 1.80 ± 0.73 2.35 ± 0.94 NS Foliate C59 wnt concentration (μg) 202.7 ± 62.4 251.9 ± 64.4 0.014 Vitamin B12 (μg) 2.78 ± 1.47 3.67 ± 1.61 NS Vitamin C (mg) 57.3 ± 24.4 111.2 ± 87.1 0.002 TEE (kcal/d) 2642 ± 348 2638 ± 421 NS EB (kcal/d) −288 ± 477 −51 ± 224 0.002 EEE (kcal/d) 959 ± 174 905 ± 337 NS EA (kcal/kg FFM/d) 28.3 ± 9.2 35.8 ± 12.3

0.011 *Before dietary intervention (0) vs. after three months of dietary intervention (3). Table 3 Anthropometric characteristics at 0 and 3 measurement points M ± SD Parameters 0 3 p-value* Body weight (kg) 59.3 ± 5.3 59.6 ± 5.3 NS BMI (kg/m2) 20.6 ± 1.4 20.7 ± 1.5 NS FM (%) 20.6 ± 3.7 21.0 ± 3.5 NS FM (kg) 12.2 ± 2.4 12.5 ± 2.4 NS FFM (%) 79.4 ± 3.7 79.0 ± 3.7 NS FFM (kg) 47.1 ± 4.9 47.1 ± 4.8 NS *Before nutritional intervention (0) vs. after three months of dietary intervention (3). Effect of the dietary intervention on hormonal parameters Neither buy AZD1480 resumption of regular cycles nor improved menstrual frequency was observed in the athletes during the three month study period. However, LH concentration and LH to FSH ratio measured after three months of dietary

intervention were found to be significantly higher than at the beginning of the study (mean 41.55 mlU/ml and 0.12, respectively) (Table 4). A positive correlation between EA and LH concentrations appeared (r = 0.26, p < 0.05) (Figure 1). Table 4 Hormones concentration at 0 and 3 measurement points M ± SD Hormones (reference values) 0 3 p-value* LH (2.39–6.60 mlU/ml) 3.04 ± 1.63 4.59 ± 2.53 0.009 FSH

(3.03–8.08 mlU/ml) 5.01 ± 2.37 5.00 ± 2.08 NS E2 (21–251 pg/ml) 36.5 ± 19.4 36.2 ± 15.3 NS P (0.1–0.3 ng/ml) 0.54 ± 0.99 0.68 ± 0.77 NS LH/FSH (0.6–1.2) 0.84 ± 0.56 0.96 ± 0.52 0.001 *Before dietary intervention (0) vs. after three months of dietary intervention (3). Figure 1 Correlation between energy availability and LH levels. Discussion In the study, the authors evaluated the effects of an individualized Cyclooxygenase (COX) dietary intervention, providing an appropriate energy availability, energy balance and an adequate intake of minerals and vitamins, on the menstrual cycle in young female athletes. Diets were planned by taking into account the total energy expenditure, nutritional status and the current training period, in the expectation that an individualized diet will help reduce menstrual dysfunctions without decreasing total energy expenditure, training volume and hormonal treatment. The planned study period was nine months, and this study provides Selleck Go6983 results obtained after three months, the first time-point, post dietary intervention start. Our results concerning energy and nutritional intakes, obtained before the start of the above dietary intervention, were similar to our previous results [18, 19].