“These two components of the female athlete tetrad put them at higher risk for the other two; the cardiovascular and bone density deficits of much older, postmenopausal women,” according to Dr. Hoch, associate professor of orthopaedic surgery and director of the Froedtert & the Medical College Women’s Sports Medicine Center reports Science Daily.
The researchers studied 22 professional ballerinas, all members of the Milwaukee Ballet Company, to determine the prevalence of disordered eating, amenorrhea (lack of menstruation), abnormal vascular function and low bone density. Study findings were presented at the American College of Sports Medicine meeting in Seattle, May 30.
The dancers completed questionnaires on their menstrual patterns and eating habits, and underwent a blood test for hormonal levels. Thirty-six percent of the group had disordered eating habits and 77 percent were in a calorie deficit. Twenty-seven percent were currently amenorrheic, 23 percent had low bone mass density and nine percent were taking birth control.
Arterial ultrasound measurements revealed that 64 percent had abnormal artery dilation in response to blood flow.
“It was unknown if professional dancers without menstrual periods have evidence of vascular dysfunction, yet some characteristics of the tetrad were common in this group,” says Dr. Hoch. “Eighty-six percent had one or more components, and fourteen percent had all four.”
The study was funded by grants from the Clinical and Translational Science Institute Adult Translational Research Unit of the Medical College, and by the Steve Cullen Healthy Heart Club Funding of 2008.
Co authors of the study include: Paula Papanek, Ph.D., associate professor and director of exercise science at Marquette University; and at the Medical College – Heather Havlik, M.D., a sports medicine fellow; William Raasch, M.D., professor of orthopaedic surgery; Michael Widlansky, M.D., assistant professor of medicine in cardiology; Jane Schimke, clinical research coordinator, and David Gutterman, M.D., senior associate dean and professor of medicine in cardiology.
High-dose Folic Acid Supplements Improved Vascular Function in Amenorrheic Runners
In a related study, presented earlier at the American Society of Sports Medicine meeting in Tampa, Fla., researchers at The Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee found that four to six weeks of high-dose folic acid supplementation could improve vascular function in young female runners who were amenorrheic (not menstruating).
This is the first study to use folic acid supplementation to improve vascular function in young runners, and is important because folic acid may not only decrease cardiovascular risks but also improve athletic performance for these women. The research was conducted at Froedtert Hospital.
Read more here: Ballerinas and Female Athletes Share Quadruple Health Threats