The barriers and facilitators of improving energy availability amongst females clinically diagnosed with Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs).

Background: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) is a serious clinical condition. However, there is little research in athletes with a clinical diagnosis and limited evidence on the recovery of REDs.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional retrospective study whereby 55 (25.

Nutrition knowledge, body image and food security risk amongst development rugby league players.

Background: This study aimed to describe the nutrition knowledge, food security risk and eating disorder risk of development male rugby league players.

Methods: Sixty athletes from one Australian professional rugby league club volunteered. A cross sectional online survey questionnaire consisted of three sections (Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI-3), Nutrition Knowledge and Food Security).

Risk of low energy availability, eating disorders and food insecurity amongst development female rugby league players.

Background: There have been several published studies on the prevalence of low energy availability (LEA) risk amongst North American and European endurance athletes. Yet the prevalence and risk factors amongst rugby league players are less well understood. This study assessed the prevalence of low energy availability risk, eating disorder risk, and food security amongst players from a female National Rugby League squad in Australia.

Risk of low energy availability and nutrition knowledge among female team sport athletes.

Background: Nutrition knowledge influences adequate dietary intake in athletes. Inadequate dietary intakes can result in low energy availability (LEA) which can lead to relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S). To date, there is little information on the relationship between nutrition knowledge and the risk of LEA in female team sport athletes.

Dietary energy intake across the menstrual cycle: a narrative review.

Females are often underrepresented in the scientific literature, but awareness of the need for female-specific research is increasing. Review articles have been published on the effects of the menstrual cycle on aspects of exercise performance and physiology, yet to date no research has reviewed the effect of menstrual cycle phase on dietary energy intake. Fluctuations in endogenous sex hormones across the menstrual cycle influence a range of physiological processes, including those involved in nutritional status.

The development and validation of a questionnaire to assess relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) knowledge.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop and validate a questionnaire assessing knowledge of signs and symptoms of relative energy deficiency in sport among healthcareprofessionals and physically active individuals.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: The questionnaire was created in two phases: 1)Item development was established through a literature review, expert review (n = 4), and pre-testing among healthcare professionals, dietetic students, and the general population (n = 35).

Endothelial-Specific Loss of Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor 1 Increases Vascular Permeability and Exacerbates Bleomycin-induced Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive disease which leads to significant morbidity and mortality from respiratory failure. The two drugs currently approved for clinical use slow the rate of decline in lung function but have not been shown to halt disease progression or reverse established fibrosis. Thus, new therapeutic targets are needed.

Relationships between Dietary Patterns and Indices of Arterial Stiffness and Central Arterial Wave Reflection in 9-11-Year-Old Children.

Arterial stiffness is an important marker of vascular damage and a strong predictor of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Given that pathophysiological processes leading to an increased arterial stiffness begin during childhood, the aim of this clustered observational study was to determine the relationship between modifiable factors including dietary patterns and indices of aortic arterial stiffness and wave reflection in 9-11-year-old children. Data collection was conducted between April and December 2015 in 17 primary schools in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Dietary Intakes Differ by Body Composition Goals: An Observational Study of Professional Rugby Union Players in New Zealand.

Preseason in rugby union is a period of intensive training where players undergo conditioning to prepare for the competitive season. In some cases, this includes modifying body composition through weight gain or fat loss. This study aimed to describe the macronutrient intakes of professional rugby union players during pre-season training.

Hepcidin and iron: novel findings for elite female rugby Sevens players.

Background: Iron deficiency is a common deficiency disease worldwide with athletes at increased risk.

Methods: A proposed new mechanism of exercise-induced iron deficiency in athletes involves the iron-regulatory hormone hepcidin, however, there is limited information on this amongst elite athletes. This study describes iron status in elite female rugby Sevens players.

Hepcidin as a Prospective Individualized Biomarker for Individuals at Risk of Low Energy Availability.

Hepcidin, a peptide hormone with an acknowledged evolutionary function in iron homeostasis, was discovered at the turn of the 21st century. Since then, the implications of increased hepcidin activity have been investigated as a potential advocate for the increased risk of iron deficiency in various health settings. Such implications are particularly relevant in the sporting community where peaks in hepcidin postexercise (∼3-6 hr) are suggested to reduce iron absorption and recycling, and contribute to the development of exercise-induced iron deficiency in athletes.

Physiological responses to a five-day adventure race: Continuous blood glucose, hemodynamics and metabolites the 2012 GODZone field-study.

Background/objective: Adventure racing is an ultra-endurance activity that imposes a unique multifaceted stress on the human body. The purpose of this field study was to examine the physiological responses to a 5-day adventure race.

Methods: Eight competitors, two teams (1 female each) in the 2012 GODZone adventure race volunteered.

Dietary Patterns, Cardiorespiratory and Muscular Fitness in 9⁻11-Year-Old Children from Dunedin, New Zealand.

Research shows that cardiorespiratory (CRF) and muscular fitness in childhood are associated with a healthier cardiovascular profile in adulthood. Identifying factors associated with measures of fitness in childhood could allow for strategies to optimize cardiovascular health throughout the lifecourse. The aim of this study was to examine the association between dietary patterns and both CRF and muscular fitness in 9⁻11-year-olds.

Adding omega-3 fatty acids to a protein-based supplement during pre-season training results in reduced muscle soreness and the better maintenance of explosive power in professional Rugby Union players.

Evidence suggests that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation could reduce muscle soreness and maintain muscle function following eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage. The aim of this applied field study was to investigate the effectiveness of consuming a protein-based supplement containing 1546 mg of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) (551 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 551 mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) twice daily (FO) compared to a protein-based placebo (P) on muscle soreness, countermovement jump (CMJ) performance and psychological well-being in 20 professional Rugby Union players during 5 weeks of pre-season training. Players completed a 5-point-Likert soreness scale with 5 indicating "no soreness" and a questionnaire assessing fatigue, sleep, stress and mood each morning of training, plus they performed CMJ tests once or twice per week.

Body mass changes during training in elite rugby union: Is a single test of hydration indices reliable?

There is limited research studying fluid and electrolyte balance in rugby union players, and a paucity of information regarding the test-retest reliability. This study describes the fluid balance of elite rugby union players across multiple squads and the reliability of fluid balance measures between two equivalent training sessions. Sixty-one elite rugby players completed a single fluid balance testing session during a game simulation training session.

Macronutrient Intakes of Male Rugby Union Players: A Review.

Rugby is a worldwide intermittent team sport. Players tend to be heavier than the majority of similar team sport athletes on whom the dietary guidelines have been developed. Therefore, the aim of the current review was to describe the intakes of rugby union players.

Sleep timing is associated with diet and physical activity levels in 9-11-year-old children from Dunedin, New Zealand: the PEDALS study.

It is well documented that short sleep duration is associated with excess body weight and poor food intake in children. It has been suggested that sleep timing behaviour may also be an important predictor of weight and other related behaviours, independent of sleep duration; however, there is a lack of research investigating these relationships. The present study investigated sleep timing in association with diet and physical activity levels in 439 children aged 9-11 years old from New Zealand.

β-Hydroxy β-Methylbutyrate (HMB) Supplementation Effects on Body Mass and Performance in Elite Male Rugby Union Players.

McIntosh, ND, Love, TD, Haszard, J, Osborne, H, and Black, KE. β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation effects on body mass and performance in elite male rugby union players. J Strength Cond Res 32(1): 19-26, 2018-Preseason is characterized by high training volumes with short recovery periods β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate (HMB) has been postulated to assist with recovery.

Cardiorespiratory fitness is positively associated with a healthy dietary pattern in New Zealand adolescents.

Objective: To examine the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and dietary patterns in adolescents.

Design: Food choice was assessed using the validated New Zealand Adolescent FFQ. Principal components analysis was used to determine dietary patterns.

The fluid and electrolyte balance of New Zealand European and Māori/Pacific Island athletes: An observational study.

Observational research on professional athletes from the USA suggests differences may exist in sweat sodium loss based on ethnic differences. The New Zealand (NZ) sporting population is mainly of European or Māori/Pacific Island origin. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the fluid-electrolyte balance of athletes by ethnicity.

Knowledge and attitudes to vitamin D and sun exposure in elite New Zealand athletes: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Sun safety and vitamin D status are important for prolonged health. They are of particular interest to those working with athletes for whom for whom safe sun practices maybe limited. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to describe the attitudes of elite New Zealand athletes to both vitamin D and sun exposure.

Is the food environment surrounding schools associated with the diet quality of adolescents in Otago, New Zealand?

Using a sample of adolescents from schools in Otago, New Zealand, associations between food outlets around schools and dietary quality were investigated. Food outlet environment data were derived using GIS data. Multivariate regression analysis results showed that outlet density, in an 800m buffer around schools, of cafes and restaurants, supermarkets and takeaways was associated with higher Diet Quality Index scores in boys, and distance to nearest outlet for convenience stores, cafes and restaurants and supermarkets with lower scores for girls.

Diet quality is associated with measures of body fat in adolescents from Otago, New Zealand.

Objective: To examine the potential associations between diet quality and multiple measures of body composition in a sample of New Zealand adolescents aged 14-18 years.

Design: Cross-sectional survey of eleven high schools in Otago, New Zealand. Each participant completed an online FFQ and a New Zealand Diet Quality Index for Adolescents (NZDQI-A) score was calculated based on variety and adequacy of intake for five major food groups.

A randomised trial of pre-exercise meal composition on performance and muscle damage in well-trained basketball players.

Background: Attenuating muscle damage is important to subsequent sports performance. It is possible that pre-exercise protein intake could influence markers of muscle damage and benefit performance, however, published research provides conflicting results. At present no study has investigated protein and carbohydrate (PRO/CHO) co-ingestion solely pre-exercise, nor prior to basketball-specific exercise.