Managing female athlete health : Auditing the representation of female versus male participants among research in supplements to manage diagnosed micronutrient issues
Journal article
Smith, Ella S., McKay, Alannah K. A., Kuikman, Megan, Ackerman, Kathryn E., Harris, Rachel, Elliot-Sale, Kirsty J., Stellingwerff, Trent and Burke, Louise M.. (2022). Managing female athlete health : Auditing the representation of female versus male participants among research in supplements to manage diagnosed micronutrient issues. Nutrients. 14(16), p. Article 3372. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14163372
Authors | Smith, Ella S., McKay, Alannah K. A., Kuikman, Megan, Ackerman, Kathryn E., Harris, Rachel, Elliot-Sale, Kirsty J., Stellingwerff, Trent and Burke, Louise M. |
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Abstract | Micronutrient deficiencies and sub-optimal intakes among female athletes are a concern and are commonly prevented or treated with medical supplements. However, it is unclear how well women have been considered in the research underpinning current supplementation practices. We conducted an audit of the literature supporting the use of calcium, iron, and vitamin D. Of the 299 studies, including 25,171 participants, the majority (71%) of participants were women. Studies with exclusively female cohorts (37%) were also more prevalent than those examining males in isolation (31%). However, study designs considering divergent responses between sexes were sparse, accounting for 7% of the literature. Moreover, despite the abundance of female participants, the quality and quantity of the literature specific to female athletes was poor. Just 32% of studies including women defined menstrual status, while none implemented best-practice methodologies regarding ovarian hormonal control. Additionally, only 10% of studies included highly trained female athletes. Investigations of calcium supplementation were particularly lacking, with just two studies conducted in highly trained women. New research should focus on high-quality investigations specific to female athletes, alongside evaluating sex-based differences in the response to calcium, iron, and vitamin D, thus ensuring the specific needs of women have been considered in current protocols involving medical supplements. |
Keywords | women; physical activity; menstrual status; oral contraceptive; nutrition; nutrient deficiency; calcium; iron; vitamin D |
Year | 2022 |
Journal | Nutrients |
Journal citation | 14 (16), p. Article 3372 |
Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI AG) |
ISSN | 2072-6643 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14163372 |
PubMed ID | 36014878 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-85136685519 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC9412577 |
Open access | Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access |
Page range | 1-18 |
Funder | Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance |
Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation | |
Publisher's version | License File Access Level Open |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 17 Aug 2022 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 12 Aug 2022 |
Deposited | 31 Jan 2023 |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8yq2z/managing-female-athlete-health-auditing-the-representation-of-female-versus-male-participants-among-research-in-supplements-to-manage-diagnosed-micronutrient-issues
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Publisher's version
OA_Smith_2022_Managing_Female_Athlete_Health_Auditing_the.pdf | |
License: CC BY 4.0 | |
File access level: Open |
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