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Henttu, I. 2025. The prevalence of primary REDs indicators and the potential role of low libido as a sign of male athlete REDs: examining prevalence and associations with established REDs indicators among Finnish Elite male athletes. Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Master’s thesis in Exercise Physiology, 69 p.
Low energy availability (LEA) in athletes can result in various health consequences, potentially leading to Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). Research on male athlete REDs has been limited. This cross-sectional study was done as part of the NoREDS-study. The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of primary REDs indicators and low libido and the associations between established REDs indicators and reduced libido among Finnish elite male athletes (n = 53) in the pre-competition phase. The prevalence of REDs indicators and grouping (LEA vs. AEA) was based on the IOC REDs CAT2 risk stratification. Data collection included hormonal assays (TES, T3), BC and BMD assessment (DXA), self-reported ED-symptoms (EDE-QS), and history of BSIs and libido (modified version of the LEAM-Q). Between-group comparisons were evaluated with X2 tests, associations between REDs indicators and libido surrogates using Spearman’s correlation and ORs calculated using binomial logistic regression (significance: p < 0,05).
55 % of the study population were at risk of REDs (categorized as LEA). The prevalence was 49 % for low TES, 34 % for low T3, 38 % for ED symptoms, 42 % for the history of BSIs and 2 % for low BMD Z-Score. The prevalence of all indicators except for low BMD was higher in the LEA group compared to the AEA group: low TES: 69 % vs. 25 %, p = 0.0001; low T3: 48 % vs. 17 %, p = 0.016; ED symptoms: 55 % vs. 17 %, p = 0.004; BSIs: 66 % vs. 13 %, p < 0,001). Similarly, mean values of all indicators, except for BMD Z-Score, differed significantly between LEA and AEA: TES: 14,2 ± 4,3 vs. 18,0 ± 5,2 nmol/L, p = 0,006; T3: 4,5 ± 1,2 vs. 5,1 ± 1,1 pmol/L, p = 0,001; EDE-QS: 3,8 ± 3,9 vs. 1,2 ± 2,2, p = 0,002. The prevalence of low libido was 58 %, with a significantly higher prevalence of low TES (62 % vs. 32 %, p = 0,034) and lower mean TES (15,2 ± 5,5 vs. 17,0 ± 4,0 nmol/L, p = 0.048) in the low libido group. Spearman’s correlation showed a significant negative relationship between TES and sex drive (rs(24) = -0,449, p = 0,005) and BMD and sex drive (rs(50) = -0,406, p = 0,003) within all participants. In the AEA group, a significant negative relationship was found between BMD and sex drive (rs(24) = -0,555, p = 0,005) and BMD and frequency of morning erections (rs(24) = -0,449, p = 0,005). In the LEA group, a significant positive relationship was found between EDE-QS score and frequency of morning erections (rs(29) = 0,454, p = 0,013). Low TES athletes were 3,38 times more likely to have low libido than those with normal TES levels (95 % CI [1,01-11,31], p = 0,048) and those with ED symptoms were 3,23 times more likely to report fewer morning erections (95 % CI [0,69-10,86], p = 0,058).
The findings of this study support the hypothesis that REDs indicators cluster in at-risk athletes. Given the high prevalence of low libido and associations with primary REDs indicators, self-reported low libido shows potential as a valuable tool for identifying male athletes at risk of REDs, while further research is warranted to clarify the causal associations between low libido and LEA.
Key Words: REDs, LEA, libido, male athletes, testosterone, triiodothyronine, bone health, eating disorders
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[{"key": "dc.contributor.advisor", "value": "Pullinen, Teemu", "language": null, "element": "contributor", "qualifier": "advisor", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.contributor.author", "value": "Henttu, Iida", "language": null, "element": "contributor", "qualifier": "author", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.date.accessioned", "value": "2025-03-20T06:25:40Z", "language": null, "element": "date", "qualifier": "accessioned", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.date.available", "value": "2025-03-20T06:25:40Z", "language": null, "element": "date", "qualifier": "available", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.date.issued", "value": "2025", "language": null, "element": "date", "qualifier": "issued", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.identifier.uri", "value": "https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/100835", "language": null, "element": "identifier", "qualifier": "uri", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.description.abstract", "value": "Henttu, I. 2025. The prevalence of primary REDs indicators and the potential role of low libido as a sign of male athlete REDs: examining prevalence and associations with established REDs indicators among Finnish Elite male athletes. Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4, Master\u2019s thesis in Exercise Physiology, 69 p. \n\nLow energy availability (LEA) in athletes can result in various health consequences, potentially leading to Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). Research on male athlete REDs has been limited. This cross-sectional study was done as part of the NoREDS-study. The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of primary REDs indicators and low libido and the associations between established REDs indicators and reduced libido among Finnish elite male athletes (n = 53) in the pre-competition phase. The prevalence of REDs indicators and grouping (LEA vs. AEA) was based on the IOC REDs CAT2 risk stratification. Data collection included hormonal assays (TES, T3), BC and BMD assessment (DXA), self-reported ED-symptoms (EDE-QS), and history of BSIs and libido (modified version of the LEAM-Q). Between-group comparisons were evaluated with X2 tests, associations between REDs indicators and libido surrogates using Spearman\u2019s correlation and ORs calculated using binomial logistic regression (significance: p < 0,05).\n\n55 % of the study population were at risk of REDs (categorized as LEA). The prevalence was 49 % for low TES, 34 % for low T3, 38 % for ED symptoms, 42 % for the history of BSIs and 2 % for low BMD Z-Score. The prevalence of all indicators except for low BMD was higher in the LEA group compared to the AEA group: low TES: 69 % vs. 25 %, p = 0.0001; low T3: 48 % vs. 17 %, p = 0.016; ED symptoms: 55 % vs. 17 %, p = 0.004; BSIs: 66 % vs. 13 %, p < 0,001). Similarly, mean values of all indicators, except for BMD Z-Score, differed significantly between LEA and AEA: TES: 14,2 \u00b1 4,3 vs. 18,0 \u00b1 5,2 nmol/L, p = 0,006; T3: 4,5 \u00b1 1,2 vs. 5,1 \u00b1 1,1 pmol/L, p = 0,001; EDE-QS: 3,8 \u00b1 3,9 vs. 1,2 \u00b1 2,2, p = 0,002. The prevalence of low libido was 58 %, with a significantly higher prevalence of low TES (62 % vs. 32 %, p = 0,034) and lower mean TES (15,2 \u00b1 5,5 vs. 17,0 \u00b1 4,0 nmol/L, p = 0.048) in the low libido group. Spearman\u2019s correlation showed a significant negative relationship between TES and sex drive (rs(24) = -0,449, p = 0,005) and BMD and sex drive (rs(50) = -0,406, p = 0,003) within all participants. In the AEA group, a significant negative relationship was found between BMD and sex drive (rs(24) = -0,555, p = 0,005) and BMD and frequency of morning erections (rs(24) = -0,449, p = 0,005). In the LEA group, a significant positive relationship was found between EDE-QS score and frequency of morning erections (rs(29) = 0,454, p = 0,013). Low TES athletes were 3,38 times more likely to have low libido than those with normal TES levels (95 % CI [1,01-11,31], p = 0,048) and those with ED symptoms were 3,23 times more likely to report fewer morning erections (95 % CI [0,69-10,86], p = 0,058).\n\nThe findings of this study support the hypothesis that REDs indicators cluster in at-risk athletes. Given the high prevalence of low libido and associations with primary REDs indicators, self-reported low libido shows potential as a valuable tool for identifying male athletes at risk of REDs, while further research is warranted to clarify the causal associations between low libido and LEA. \n\nKey Words: REDs, LEA, libido, male athletes, testosterone, triiodothyronine, bone health, eating disorders", "language": "en", "element": "description", "qualifier": "abstract", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.description.provenance", "value": "Submitted by jyx lomake-julkaisija (jyx-julkaisija.group@korppi.jyu.fi) on 2025-03-20T06:25:40Z\nNo. of bitstreams: 0", "language": "en", "element": "description", "qualifier": "provenance", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.description.provenance", "value": "Made available in DSpace on 2025-03-20T06:25:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0", "language": "en", "element": "description", "qualifier": "provenance", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.format.extent", "value": "75", "language": null, "element": "format", "qualifier": "extent", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.format.mimetype", "value": "application/pdf", "language": null, "element": "format", "qualifier": "mimetype", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.language.iso", "value": "eng", "language": null, "element": "language", "qualifier": "iso", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.rights", "value": "In Copyright", "language": null, "element": "rights", "qualifier": null, "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.title", "value": "The prevalence of primary REDs indicators and the potential role of low libido as a sign of male athlete REDs: examining prevalence and associations with established REDs indicators among Finnish Elite male athletes", "language": null, "element": "title", "qualifier": null, "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.type", "value": "master thesis", "language": null, "element": "type", "qualifier": null, "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.identifier.urn", "value": "URN:NBN:fi:jyu-202503202648", "language": null, "element": "identifier", "qualifier": "urn", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.contributor.faculty", "value": "Liikuntatieteellinen tiedekunta", "language": "fi", "element": "contributor", "qualifier": "faculty", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.contributor.faculty", "value": "Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences", "language": "en", "element": "contributor", "qualifier": "faculty", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.contributor.organization", "value": "Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4n yliopisto", "language": "fi", "element": "contributor", "qualifier": "organization", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.contributor.organization", "value": "University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4", "language": "en", "element": "contributor", "qualifier": "organization", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.subject.discipline", "value": "Liikuntafysiologian opintosuunta", "language": "fi", "element": "subject", "qualifier": "discipline", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.subject.discipline", "value": "Specialisation in Exercise Physiology", "language": "en", "element": "subject", "qualifier": "discipline", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.type.coar", "value": "http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_bdcc", "language": null, "element": "type", "qualifier": "coar", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.rights.copyright", "value": "\u00a9 The Author(s)", "language": null, "element": "rights", "qualifier": "copyright", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.rights.accesslevel", "value": "restrictedAccess", "language": null, "element": "rights", "qualifier": "accesslevel", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.type.publication", "value": "masterThesis", "language": null, "element": "type", "qualifier": "publication", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.format.content", "value": "fulltext", "language": null, "element": "format", "qualifier": "content", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.rights.url", "value": "https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/", "language": null, "element": "rights", "qualifier": "url", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.rights.accessrights", "value": "Tekij\u00e4 ei ole antanut lupaa avoimeen julkaisuun, joten aineisto on luettavissa vain Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4n yliopiston kirjaston <a href=\"https://www.jyu.fi/fi/osc/kirjasto/tyoskentelytilat/laitteet-ja-tilat#toc-jyx-ty-asema\">arkistoty\u00f6asemalta</a>.", "language": "fi", "element": "rights", "qualifier": "accessrights", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.rights.accessrights", "value": "<br><br>The author has not given permission to make the work publicly available electronically. Therefore the material can be read only at the archival <a href=\"https://www.jyu.fi/fi/osc/kirjasto/tyoskentelytilat/laitteet-ja-tilat#toc-jyx-ty-asema\">workstation</a> at Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4 University Library reserved for the use of archival materials.", "language": "en", "element": "rights", "qualifier": "accessrights", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.description.accessibilityfeature", "value": "unknown accessibility", "language": "en", "element": "description", "qualifier": "accessibilityfeature", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.description.accessibilityfeature", "value": "ei tietoa saavutettavuudesta", "language": "fi", "element": "description", "qualifier": "accessibilityfeature", "schema": "dc"}]
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