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Markers of Low Energy Availability in Overreached Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

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Abstract

Background

Overreaching is the transient reduction in performance that occurs following training overload and is driven by an imbalance between stress and recovery. Low energy availability (LEA) may drive underperformance by compounding training stress; however, this has yet to be investigated systematically.

Objective

The aim of this study was to quantify changes in markers of LEA in athletes who demonstrated underperformance, and exercise performance in athletes with markers of LEA.

Methods

Studies using a ≥ 2-week training block with maintained or increased training loads that measured exercise performance and markers of LEA were identified using a systematic search following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Changes from pre- to post-training were analyzed for (1) markers of LEA in underperforming athletes and (2) performance in athletes with ≥ 2 markers of LEA.

Results

From 56 identified studies, 14 separate groups of athletes demonstrated underperformance, with 50% also displaying ≥ 2 markers of LEA post-training. Eleven groups demonstrated ≥ 2 markers of LEA independent of underperformance and 37 had no performance reduction or ≥ 2 markers of LEA. In underperforming athletes, fat mass (d =  − 0.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] − 0.54 to − 0.04; p = 0.02), resting metabolic rate (d =  − 0.63, 95% CI − 1.22 to − 0.05; p = 0.03), and leptin (d =  − 0.72, 95% CI − 1.08 to − 0.35; p < 0.0001) were decreased, whereas body mass (d =  − 0.04, 95% CI − 0.21 to 0.14; p = 0.70), cortisol (d =  − 0.06, 95% CI − 0.35 to 0.23; p = 0.68), insulin (d =  − 0.12, 95% CI − 0.43 to 0.19; p = 0.46), and testosterone (d =  − 0.31, 95% CI − 0.69 to 0.08; p = 0.12) were unaltered. In athletes with ≥ 2 LEA markers, performance was unaffected (d = 0.09, 95% CI − 0.30 to 0.49; p = 0.6), and the high heterogeneity in performance outcomes (I2 = 84.86%) could not be explained by the performance tests used or the length of the training block.

Conclusion

Underperforming athletes may present with markers of LEA, but overreaching is also observed in the absence of LEA. The lack of a specific effect and high variability of outcomes with LEA on performance suggests that LEA is not obligatory for underperformance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Human Performance and Health Research Laboratory, Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada

    Megan A. Kuikman, Alexandra M. Coates & Jamie F. Burr

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  1. Megan A. Kuikman
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  2. Alexandra M. Coates
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  3. Jamie F. Burr
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Correspondence to Jamie F. Burr.

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All authors contributed to the production of this review and have read and approved the final manuscript. MK was involved in screening, data extraction and data analysis, and led the writing of this review. AC was involved in screening and contributed to the writing of this review. JB resolved any conflicts in screening and contributed to the writing of this review.

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No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this article.

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Megan Kuikman, Alexandra Coates, and Jamie Burr declare that they have no conflicts of interest relevant to the contents of this review.

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Kuikman, M.A., Coates, A.M. & Burr, J.F. Markers of Low Energy Availability in Overreached Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sports Med 52, 2925–2941 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-022-01723-x

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