Low energy availability increases immune cell formation of reactive oxygen species and impairs exercise performance in female endurance athletes.

The effects of low energy availability (LEA) on the immune system are poorly understood. This study examined the effects of 14 days of LEA on immune cell redox balance and inflammation at rest and in response to acute exercise, and exercise performance in female athletes. Twelve female endurance athletes (age: 26.8 ± 3.4 yrs, maximum oxygen uptake (V˙O LEA was associated with a 94 % (P = 0.003) increase in PBMC NADPH oxidase 2 protein content, and a 22 % (P = 0.013) increase in systemic cortisol. LEA also caused an alteration of several inflammatory related proteins (P < 0.05). Acute exercise augmented H 14 days of LEA in female athletes increased cortisol levels and had a pronounced effect on the immune system, including increased capacity for ROS production, altered plasma inflammatory proteome and lowered exercise induced mobilization of leukocytes. Furthermore, LEA resulted in a sustained impairment in exercise performance.

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Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.