Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Technologia Alimentaria

Background. This study was focused on investigations of secondary regulators of plasma leptin levels such as prolactin, testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and nutritional status, in young female athletes with menstrual disorders.

Material and methods. Thirty four female professional rowers with menstrual disorders (amenorrhoea and oligomenorrhoea), aged 18.1 ±2.0, with a training period of 4.3 ±2.1 and BMI of 21.0 ±2.1 kg/m²,withtoo high (IL) or too low plasma leptin levels (DL) participated in the study. The nutritional status was evaluated based on the analysis of body composition using the BIA method – percentage of adipose tissue (FM) and fat free mass (FFM) and skinfold thickness (ST) using a Harpenden skinfold caliper. Moreover, serum levels of leptin, prolactin, testosterone and SHBG were estimated using RIA kits.

Results. Values of BMI, ST, FM were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in IL athletes, while FFM was significantly (p < 0.05) lower compared to DL rowers (BMI: IL 22.3 ±2.2 kg/m², DL 20.2 ±1.4 kg/m², ST: IL 12.4 ±4.0 mm, DL 9.5 ±2.1 mm, FM: IL: 23.2 ±4.9%, DL: 19.3 ±3.3%, FFM: IL 76.8 ±4.9%, DL 80.7 ±3.4%). The results of plasma leptin level correlated (p < 0.05) with anthropometric parameters (age: r = –0.38, body mass: r = 0.46, BMI: r = 0.59, ST: r = 0.40), body composition (FM%: r = 0.48, FM kg:
r = 0.55, FFM%: r = –0.48), prolactin (r = 0.72) and testosterone levels (r = 0.43).

Background. This study was focused on investigations of secondary regulators of plasma leptin levels such as prolactin, testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and nutritional status, in young female athletes with menstrual disorders.

Material and methods. Thirty four female professional rowers with menstrual disorders (amenorrhoea and oligomenorrhoea), aged 18.1 ±2.0, with a training period of 4.3 ±2.1 and BMI of 21.0 ±2.1 kg/m²,withtoo high (IL) or too low plasma leptin levels (DL) participated in the study. The nutritional status was evaluated based on the analysis of body composition using the BIA method – percentage of adipose tissue (FM) and fat free mass (FFM) and skinfold thickness (ST) using a Harpenden skinfold caliper. Moreover, serum levels of leptin, prolactin, testosterone and SHBG were estimated using RIA kits.

Results. Values of BMI, ST, FM were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in IL athletes, while FFM was significantly (p < 0.05) lower compared to DL rowers (BMI: IL 22.3 ±2.2 kg/m², DL 20.2 ±1.4 kg/m², ST: IL 12.4 ±4.0 mm, DL 9.5 ±2.1 mm, FM: IL: 23.2 ±4.9%, DL: 19.3 ±3.3%, FFM: IL 76.8 ±4.9%, DL 80.7 ±3.4%). The results of plasma leptin level correlated (p < 0.05) with anthropometric parameters (age: r = –0.38, body mass: r = 0.46, BMI: r = 0.59, ST: r = 0.40), body composition (FM%: r = 0.48, FM kg:
r = 0.55, FFM%: r = –0.48), prolactin (r = 0.72) and testosterone levels (r = 0.43).