Impact of relative energy deficiency related to sport (RED-S) on biochemical parameters in professional handball athletes from a community university in the Itajaí Valley – SC
Abstract
Energy deficit presents deleterious physiological consequences, which in the sports context may lead to Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), impacting both health and athletic performance. Aiming to understand if the energy deficit can influence the levels of biochemical parameters in handball athletes, this quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted with adult male handball athletes. All adult athletes from the handball team of a community university in Itajaí-SC were invited to participate in the research. Based on their dietary intake, body composition, and energy expenditure during exercise, energy availability (EA) was calculated, and according to the results, the athletes were divided into two groups: low energy availability (LEA), being athletes with EA below 30 kcal/kg, and adequate energy availability (AEA), being those with EA above 30 kcal/kg. Biochemical tests were collected simultaneously. 14 participants completed all stages of the study, of which 10 were assigned to the LEA group and 4 to the AEA group. Disparity was observed between the groups in the results of lipid profile, cortisol, total testosterone and free testosterone. Both groups presented low levels of vitamin D. The parameters of complete blood count, white blood cell count, platelets, platelet volume, ferritin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, creatinine, urea, SGOT, SGPT, and glucose showed no alterations. It was concluded that there was a tendency for reduced testosterone levels and worse lipid profile results in the DEB group, suggesting a physiological impact of this energy imbalance on biochemical parameters.
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