ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2011 October;170(5):319-26

Copyright © 2011 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Influence of the menstrual cycle - follicular and luteal phases - in sports performance and nutritional, biochemical and hormonal parameters in adolescent basketball players

Lacerda L. M. ¹, Sousa F. A. B. ², Santos E. P. ², Meireles C. L. S. ², Silva A. S. ², Gonçalves M. C. R. ¹

¹ Departamento de Nutrição da Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brasil 2 Departamento de Educação Física da Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brasil

AIM: This study investigates whether the changes between follicular and luteal phases interfere with various performance-related aspects simultaneously
METHODS: Fourteen woman basketball athletes (16.21±1.4) had their menstrual cycles determined. In the early follicular phase and mid-luteal phase, they answered to a dietary recall, performed anthropometrical evaluations and physical tests (RAST test and lactate threshold). Blood samples were taken before 12 and 24 hours after each test to determine CK and cortisol.
RESULTS: The athletes did not show any alteration on food intake between follicular and luteal phases. Among the anthropometrical aspects, only the thigh circumference presented reduction in the luteal phases. All RAST variables remained unchanged, except for lower minimum power in the luteal phase (P=0.024). Lactate threshold was 2.76±0.25 folicular and 2.74±0.15 luteal, with no statistical difference. Serum cortisol in the folicular phase (10.07±3 mg/dL) and luteal (11.37±4 ug/dL) were similar. CK pre-exercise was similar between the follicular phase (155.1±90 U/I) and luteal phase (142.0±61 U/I). Physical tests promoted a significant CK increase by 121.9% and 76% in the follicular and luteal phases, respectively, but the final values remained similar between the phases.
CONCLUSION: We conclude that, even considering multifactorial aspects involved in the performance, the variations of the menstrual cycle dot affect the performance of female athletes.