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Journal of the International Society of... Dec 2023Based on a comprehensive review and critical analysis of the literature regarding the nutritional concerns of female athletes, conducted by experts in the field and... (Review)
Review
Based on a comprehensive review and critical analysis of the literature regarding the nutritional concerns of female athletes, conducted by experts in the field and selected members of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), the following conclusions represent the official Position of the Society: 1. Female athletes have unique and unpredictable hormone profiles, which influence their physiology and nutritional needs across their lifespan. To understand how perturbations in these hormones affect the individual, we recommend that female athletes of reproductive age should track their hormonal status (natural, hormone driven) against training and recovery to determine their individual patterns and needs and peri and post-menopausal athletes should track against training and recovery metrics to determine the individuals' unique patterns. 2. The primary nutritional consideration for all athletes, and in particular, female athletes, should be achieving adequate energy intake to meet their energy requirements and to achieve an optimal energy availability (EA); with a focus on the timing of meals in relation to exercise to improve training adaptations, performance, and athlete health. 3. Significant sex differences and sex hormone influences on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism are apparent, therefore we recommend first ensuring athletes meet their carbohydrate needs across all phases of the menstrual cycle. Secondly, tailoring carbohydrate intake to hormonal status with an emphasis on greater carbohydrate intake and availability during the active pill weeks of oral contraceptive users and during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle where there is a greater effect of sex hormone suppression on gluconogenesis output during exercise. 4. Based upon the limited research available, we recommend that pre-menopausal, eumenorrheic, and oral contraceptives using female athletes should aim to consume a source of high-quality protein as close to beginning and/or after completion of exercise as possible to reduce exercise-induced amino acid oxidative losses and initiate muscle protein remodeling and repair at a dose of 0.32-0.38 g·kg. For eumenorrheic women, ingestion during the luteal phase should aim for the upper end of the range due to the catabolic actions of progesterone and greater need for amino acids. 5. Close to the beginning and/or after completion of exercise, peri- and post-menopausal athletes should aim for a bolus of high EAA-containing (~10 g) intact protein sources or supplements to overcome anabolic resistance. 6. Daily protein intake should fall within the mid- to upper ranges of current sport nutrition guidelines (1.4-2.2 g·kg·day) for women at all stages of menstrual function (pre-, peri-, post-menopausal, and contraceptive users) with protein doses evenly distributed, every 3-4 h, across the day. Eumenorrheic athletes in the luteal phase and peri/post-menopausal athletes, regardless of sport, should aim for the upper end of the range. 7. Female sex hormones affect fluid dynamics and electrolyte handling. A greater predisposition to hyponatremia occurs in times of elevated progesterone, and in menopausal women, who are slower to excrete water. Additionally, females have less absolute and relative fluid available to lose via sweating than males, making the physiological consequences of fluid loss more severe, particularly in the luteal phase. 8. Evidence for sex-specific supplementation is lacking due to the paucity of female-specific research and any differential effects in females. Caffeine, iron, and creatine have the most evidence for use in females. Both iron and creatine are highly efficacious for female athletes. Creatine supplementation of 3 to 5 g per day is recommended for the mechanistic support of creatine supplementation with regard to muscle protein kinetics, growth factors, satellite cells, myogenic transcription factors, glycogen and calcium regulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Post-menopausal females benefit from bone health, mental health, and skeletal muscle size and function when consuming higher doses of creatine (0.3 g·kg·d). 9. To foster and promote high-quality research investigations involving female athletes, researchers are first encouraged to stop excluding females unless the primary endpoints are directly influenced by sex-specific mechanisms. In all investigative scenarios, researchers across the globe are encouraged to inquire and report upon more detailed information surrounding the athlete's hormonal status, including menstrual status (days since menses, length of period, duration of cycle, etc.) and/or hormonal contraceptive details and/or menopausal status.
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Creatine; Progesterone; Athletes; Sports; Amino Acids
PubMed: 37221858
DOI: 10.1080/15502783.2023.2204066 -
Fertility and Sterility May 2023To evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of endometriosis-associated pain. (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of endometriosis-associated pain.
DESIGN
A multicenter, randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
INSTITUTIONS
Four tertiary hospitals in Jiangxi and Hainan Provinces.
SUBJECTS
Women with endometriosis-associated pain aged between 20 and 40 years.
INTERVENTION
Subjects were assigned randomly to receive either acupuncture or sham acupuncture treatment for 12 weeks, starting one week before each expected menstruation and administered as a 30-minute session once per day, 3 times a week. During the menstruation period, acupuncture was administered daily when pelvic pain associated with endometriosis occurred. After acupuncture or sham acupuncture treatment, the subjects were followed for another 12 weeks.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Changes in maximum pain as assessed with the visual analog scale (VAS) for various pelvic pain, duration of dysmenorrhea, and scores on the Multidimensional Pain Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Profile of Mood States, and Endometriosis Health Profile from baseline to week 12 and week 24.
RESULTS
A total of 106 women were assigned randomly to the acupuncture and sham groups. In the acupuncture group, the reduction in the dysmenorrhea VAS score was significantly greater after treatment, but not at the end of the trial, compared to the sham group. The duration of pain was significantly shorter in the acupuncture group. All test scores were improved to a significantly greater extent in the acupuncture group than in the sham group at week 12 but not at week 24. Changes in nonmenstrual pelvic pain and dyspareunia VAS scores were not different between the groups. No severe adverse events or differences in adverse events were recorded.
CONCLUSION
Acupuncture is an effective and safe method of relieving dysmenorrhea, shortening the pain duration, and improving wellbeing and quality of life in women with endometriosis-associated pain, although its efficacy fades after treatment is discontinued.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
NCT03125304.
Topics: Female; Humans; Young Adult; Adult; Endometriosis; Dysmenorrhea; Quality of Life; Single-Blind Method; Pelvic Pain; Acupuncture Therapy; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 36716811
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.01.034 -
Women's Health (London, England) 2022After COVID-19 vaccination, women of reproductive age reported changes in their menstrual cycle.
INTRODUCTION
After COVID-19 vaccination, women of reproductive age reported changes in their menstrual cycle.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A retrospective study was carried out after a survey on social networks that included women aged 18-41 years with normal cycles according to International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics and who were vaccinated (complete schedule for two doses, except J&J/Janssen or incomplete with a single dose). Women with following conditions were excluded: pregnant or lactating women; history of diseases that cause menstrual irregularities or early menopause: anorexia, bulimia, polycystic ovary syndrome, hypothyroidism, obesity, or low weight; hysterectomized or oophorectomized patients; and high performance athletes.
RESULTS
Overall, 950 women completed the survey between July and September 2021. In total, 408 women met the inclusion criteria, and 184 reported the following characteristics: frequency (normal 43.47%, infrequent 25%, and frequent 31.53%), regularity (regular 51.08%, irregular 42.93%, and absent/amenorrhea 5.97%), duration (normal 65.21%, prolonged 26.08%, absent/amenorrhea 8.69%), and volume (heavy 41.84%, light 20.65%, and absent/amenorrhea 6.52%).
CONCLUSIONS
SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination can influence the menstrual cycle and cause alterations.
Topics: COVID-19; COVID-19 Vaccines; Female; Humans; Menstrual Cycle; Menstruation Disturbances; Retrospective Studies; SARS-CoV-2; Vaccination
PubMed: 35796571
DOI: 10.1177/17455057221109375 -
Fertility and Sterility Oct 2022To synthesize the published literature to better understand the association between cesarean scar defects (CSDs) and abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). In particular, we... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
To synthesize the published literature to better understand the association between cesarean scar defects (CSDs) and abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). In particular, we aimed to evaluate the risk and pattern(s) of CSD-associated AUB in addition to exploring the relationship between defect morphology with bleeding symptoms.
DESIGN
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
SETTING
Not applicable.
PATIENTS
Patients with CSD and reports of uterine bleeding as an outcome were identified in 60 studies from database searches.
INTERVENTIONS
Studies that investigated CSD (as defined by investigators) and reported uterine bleeding, menstrual bleeding, or AUB as an outcome were included.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The prevalence and risk of AUB (intermenstrual, postmenstrual, and unscheduled bleeding) in patients with confirmed CSD.
RESULTS
Nine studies reported on the prevalence of AUB in patients with a confirmed CSD. Patients with CSD were more likely to experience AUB, compared with those without CSD (relative risk, 3.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.02-5.97; 6 studies, 1,385 patients; I = 67%). In a population of patients with at least 1 cesarean delivery, the prevalence of AUB in those with CSD was 25.5% (95% CI, 14.7-40.5; 6 studies, 667 patients, I = 93%). However, symptom prevalence was much higher in patients presenting for imaging for a gynecologic indication where the prevalence of AUB in the presence of a CSD was 76.4% (95% CI, 67.8-83.3; 5 studies, 505 patients; I = 71%). The mean menstrual duration in symptomatic patients with CSD was 13.4 days (95% CI, 12.6-14.2; 19 studies, 2,095 patients; I = 96%), and the mean duration of early-cycle intermenstrual bleeding was 6.8 days (95% CI, 5.7-7.8 days; 9 studies, 759 patients; I = 93%). The most common descriptor of CSD-associated AUB was "brown discharge". Patients with larger CSD experienced more bleeding symptoms.
CONCLUSION
There is a strong and consistent association between patients with CSD and AUB. These patients experience a unique bleeding pattern, namely prolonged menstruation and early-cycle intermenstrual bleeding. These data should provide impetus for including CSD as a distinct entity in AUB classification systems. High heterogeneity in our results calls for standardization of nomenclature and outcome reporting for this condition.
Topics: Cesarean Section; Cicatrix; Female; Humans; Metrorrhagia; Pregnancy; Uterine Diseases; Uterine Hemorrhage
PubMed: 35985862
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.06.031 -
JAMA Internal Medicine Apr 2015The expected duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms (VMS) is important to women making decisions about possible treatments. (Observational Study)
Observational Study
IMPORTANCE
The expected duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms (VMS) is important to women making decisions about possible treatments.
OBJECTIVES
To determine total duration of frequent VMS (≥ 6 days in the previous 2 weeks) (hereafter total VMS duration) during the menopausal transition, to quantify how long frequent VMS persist after the final menstrual period (FMP) (hereafter post-FMP persistence), and to identify risk factors for longer total VMS duration and longer post-FMP persistence.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) is a multiracial/multiethnic observational study of the menopausal transition among 3302 women enrolled at 7 US sites. From February 1996 through April 2013, women completed a median of 13 visits. Analyses included 1449 women with frequent VMS.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
Total VMS duration (in years) (hot flashes or night sweats) and post-FMP persistence (in years) into postmenopause.
RESULTS
The median total VMS duration was 7.4 years. Among 881 women who experienced an observable FMP, the median post-FMP persistence was 4.5 years. Women who were premenopausal or early perimenopausal when they first reported frequent VMS had the longest total VMS duration (median, >11.8 years) and post-FMP persistence (median, 9.4 years). Women who were postmenopausal at the onset of VMS had the shortest total VMS duration (median, 3.4 years). Compared with women of other racial/ethnic groups, African American women reported the longest total VMS duration (median, 10.1 years). Additional factors related to longer duration of VMS (total VMS duration or post-FMP persistence) were younger age, lower educational level, greater perceived stress and symptom sensitivity, and higher depressive symptoms and anxiety at first report of VMS.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Frequent VMS lasted more than 7 years during the menopausal transition for more than half of the women and persisted for 4.5 years after the FMP. Individual characteristics (eg, being premenopausal and having greater negative affective factors when first experiencing VMS) were related to longer-lasting VMS. Health care professionals should counsel women to expect that frequent VMS could last more than 7 years, and they may last longer for African American women.
Topics: Black or African American; Age Factors; Anxiety; Asian; Depression; Educational Status; Estrogen Replacement Therapy; Female; Hispanic or Latino; Hot Flashes; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Longitudinal Studies; Menopause; Menstruation; Middle Aged; Postmenopause; Premenopause; Risk Factors; Self Report; Stress, Psychological; Sweating; Time Factors; United States; White People; Women's Health
PubMed: 25686030
DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.8063 -
JAMA May 2022Metformin, a biguanide commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, has been associated with potential beneficial effects across breast cancer subtypes in observational and... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
IMPORTANCE
Metformin, a biguanide commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, has been associated with potential beneficial effects across breast cancer subtypes in observational and preclinical studies.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the administration of adjuvant metformin (vs placebo) to patients with breast cancer without diabetes improves outcomes.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
MA.32, a phase 3 randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, conducted in Canada, Switzerland, US, and UK, enrolled 3649 patients with high-risk nonmetastatic breast cancer receiving standard therapy between August 2010 and March 2013, with follow-up to October 2020.
INTERVENTIONS
Patients were randomized (stratified for hormone receptor [estrogen receptor and/or progesterone receptor {ER/PgR}] status, positive vs negative; body mass index, ≤30 vs >30; human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 [ERBB2, formerly HER2 or HER2/neu], positive vs negative; and any vs no chemotherapy) to 850 mg of oral metformin twice a day (n = 1824) or oral placebo twice a day (n = 1825) for 5 years.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The primary outcome was invasive disease-free survival in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Of the 8 secondary outcomes, overall survival, distant relapse-free survival, and breast cancer-free interval were analyzed.
RESULTS
Of the 3649 randomized patients (mean age, 52.4 years; 3643 women [99.8%]), all (100%) were included in analyses. After a second interim analysis, futility was declared for patients who were ER/PgR-, so the primary analysis was conducted for 2533 patients who were ER/PgR+. The median duration of follow-up in the ER/PgR+ group was 96.2 months (range, 0.2-121 months). Invasive disease-free survival events occurred in 465 patients who were ER/PgR+. The incidence rates for invasive disease-free survival events were 2.78 per 100 patient-years in the metformin group vs 2.74 per 100 patient-years in the placebo group (hazard ratio [HR], 1.01; 95% CI, 0.84-1.21; P = .93), and the incidence rates for death were 1.46 per 100 patient-years in the metformin group vs 1.32 per 100 patient-years in the placebo group (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.86-1.41; P = .47). Among patients who were ER/PgR-, followed up for a median of 94.1 months, incidence of invasive disease-free survival events was 3.58 vs 3.60 per 100 patient-years, respectively (HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.79-1.30; P = .92). None of the 3 secondary outcomes analyzed in the ER/PgR+ group had statistically significant differences. Grade 3 nonhematological toxic events occurred more frequently in patients taking metformin than in patients taking placebo (21.5% vs 17.5%, respectively, P = .003). The most common grade 3 or higher adverse events in the metformin vs placebo groups were hypertension (2.4% vs 1.9%), irregular menses (1.5% vs 1.4%), and diarrhea (1.9% vs 7.0%).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Among patients with high-risk operable breast cancer without diabetes, the addition of metformin vs placebo to standard breast cancer treatment did not significantly improve invasive disease-free survival.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01101438.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Breast Neoplasms; Disease-Free Survival; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Metformin; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Receptor, ErbB-2; Receptors, Estrogen; Receptors, Progesterone
PubMed: 35608580
DOI: 10.1001/jama.2022.6147 -
Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian... Aug 2018Dysmenorrhea constitutes one of the most frequent disorders in women of a fertile age. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in the... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
INTRODUCTION
Dysmenorrhea constitutes one of the most frequent disorders in women of a fertile age. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in the management of primary dysmenorrhea.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Sixty females aged 17-23 years were randomly assigned to either a study group or a control group. The study group received acupuncture for the duration of 20 minutes/day, for 15 days/month, for the period of 90 days. The control group did not receive acupuncture for the same period. Baseline, during, and post assessments of both the groups were taken on day 1; day 30 and day 60; and day 90, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed by repeated measures of analysis of variance followed by post hoc analysis with Bonferroni adjustment for multiple comparisons, independent samples t test for visual analog scale score, and Mann-Whitney U test for rest of the variables using statistical package for the social sciences, version 16.
RESULTS
This study showed a significant reduction in all the variables such as the visual analog scale score for pain, menstrual cramps, headache, dizziness, diarrhea, faint, mood changes, tiredness, nausea, and vomiting in the study group compared with those in the control group.
CONCLUSION
Acupuncture could be considered as an effective treatment modality for the management of primary dysmenorrhea.
Topics: Acupuncture Points; Acupuncture Therapy; Adolescent; Adult; Dysmenorrhea; Female; Humans; Research Design; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
PubMed: 29654840
DOI: 10.1016/j.jams.2018.04.001