Publications by authors named "Paulina Wasserfurth"

Purpose: The purpose was to evaluate the individual and combined use of the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q) and the Brief Eating Disorder in Athletes Questionnaire (BEDA-Q) to detect clinical indicators associated with Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs).

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 50 female endurance athletes training ≥4× a week completed the LEAF-Q and BEDA-Q and were assessed for presence of selected REDs indicators. Athletes meeting the criteria for mild or more severe REDs severity/risk according to the International Olympic Committee REDs Clinical Assessment Tool Version 2 (IOC REDs CAT2) were classified as REDs cases.

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Exercise has a significant impact on the cardiovascular (CV) health of children and adolescents, with resultant alterations in CV structure and function being evident, even at an early age. Engagement in regular, moderate physical activity (PA) is associated with long-term CV health benefits and a reduced risk of CV disease and mortality later in life. However, competitive sports often involve PA training intensities that are beyond recommended levels for young athletes, potentially leading to adverse CV outcomes.

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Background & Aims: Adequate energy availability is essential for the body to maintain its physiological functions and achieve optimal health, especially among athletes. Unfortunately, low energy availability (LEA) is common among athletes, and it has been associated with impairments in health and performance. In contrast, an energy-restricted diet has been linked to longevity, but it is unclear how LEA affects athletes' lifespans.

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Background: Predicting individual weight loss (WL) responses to lifestyle interventions is challenging but might help practitioners and clinicians select the most promising approach for each individual.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to develop machine learning (ML) models to predict individual WL responses using only variables known before starting the intervention. In addition, we used ML to identify pre-intervention variables influencing the individual WL response.

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Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the role of low energy availability (LEA) in the interplay between depression and disordered eating/eating disorders (DE/EDs) among female athletes. The International Olympic Committee consensus statement on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) identified depression as both an outcome of LEA and a secondary risk factor for REDs. However, the direct link between LEA and depression has yet to be fully established.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to investigate how nitrogen isotope ratios (δN) in urinary urea change during a short-term energy deficit, particularly in physically active individuals.
  • Six active men participated in a controlled experiment that compared their δN during four different energy conditions—two with exercise and two without.
  • Results showed that δN significantly increased during energy deficit with exercise and highlighted the body's response to energy deprivation through amino acid oxidation.
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Unlabelled: Female endurance athletes are at high risk for developing Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), resulting in symptoms such as menstrual dysfunction and gastrointestinal (GI) problems. The primary aim of this study was to investigate effects of the FUEL (Food and nUtrition for Endurance athletes-a Learning program) intervention consisting of weekly online lectures combined with individual athlete-centered nutrition counseling every other week for sixteen weeks on REDs related symptoms in female endurance athletes at risk of low energy availability [Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q) score ≥8]. Female endurance athletes from Norway (= 60), Sweden (= 84), Ireland (= 17), and Germany (= 47) were recruited.

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Background: Age-related accumulation of highly differentiated CD8 effector memory re-expressing CD45RA (EMRA) T-cells and disruption of the kynurenine (KYN) pathway are associated with chronic inflammation and the development of insulin resistance. In this study the aim was to investigate the effects of 12-week combined strength and endurance exercise on CD8 T-cell differentiation and KYN pathway metabolites. Ninety-six elderly subjects (f/m, aged 50-70) were randomized to a control (CON) or exercise (EX) group.

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Female endurance athletes are considered a high-risk group for developing Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). Due to the lack of educational and behavioral intervention studies, targeting and evaluating the effects of the practical daily management of REDs, we developed the Food and nUtrition for Endurance athletes-a Learning (FUEL) program, consisting of 16 weekly online lectures and individual athlete-centered nutrition counseling every other week. We recruited female endurance athletes from Norway ( = 60), Sweden ( = 84), Ireland ( = 17), and Germany ( = 47).

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Relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) is a complex syndrome describing health and performance consequences of low energy availability (LEA) and is common among female endurance athletes. Various underlying causes of LEA have been reported, including disordered eating behavior (DE), but studies investigating the association with exercise addiction and food intolerances are lacking. Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between DE, exercise addiction and food intolerances in athletes at risk of LEA compared to those with low risk.

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Sirtuins are nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent deacetylases that regulate numerous pathways such as mitochondrial energy metabolism in the human body. Lower levels of these enzymes were linked to diseases such as diabetes mellitus and were also described as a result of aging. Sirtuins were previously shown to be under the control of exercise and diet, which are modifiable lifestyle factors.

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Aging and overweight increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate the potential mediating role of T-EMRA cells and inflammatory markers in the development of a decreased insulin sensitivity. A total of 134 healthy older volunteers were recruited (age 59.

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Low energy availability (LEA) represents a state in which the body does not have enough energy left to support all physiological functions needed to maintain optimal health. When compared to the normal population, athletes are particularly at risk to experience LEA and the reasons for this are manifold. LEA may result from altered dietary behaviours that are caused by body dissatisfaction, the belief that a lower body weight will result in greater performance, or social pressure to look a certain way.

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Aging is accompanied by a progressive decline in muscle mass and an increase in fat mass, which are detrimental changes associated with the development of health conditions such as type-2 diabetes mellitus or chronic low-grade inflammation. Although both exercise as well as nutritional interventions are known to be beneficial in counteracting those age-related changes, data to which extent untrained elderly people may benefit is still sparse. Therefore, a randomized, controlled, 12-week interventional trial was conducted in which 134 healthy untrained participants (96 women and 38 men, age 59.

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The n-3 PUFA, EPA and DHA, play an important role in human health. As the intake of EPA and DHA from the diet is often inadequate, supplementation of those fatty acids is recommended. A novel source of n-3 PUFA is Calanus finmarchicus oil (CO) which contains fatty acids mainly bound in wax esters.

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Background: The number of people preferring plant-based nutrition is growing continuously in the western world. Vegetarianism and veganism are also becoming increasingly popular among individuals participating in sport. However, whether recreationally active vegetarian and vegan populations can meet their nutritional needs is not clear.

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Background: The 'Western diet' typically consumed in industrialized countries is characterized by high amounts of processed cereal grains and animal products while being low in vegetables, tubers, and fruits. This dietary behavior leads to imbalances of acid-base status in favor of the acids and may cause low-grade metabolic acidosis (LGMA) that is associated with negative effects on health in the long run, including urolithiasis, bone loss, and even cardiometabolic diseases. Therefore, it has become of great interest to find dietary strategies that can be used to neutralize the acid load associated with Western diets.

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This study investigated the exercise-induced changes in oxidative stress, nitric oxide (NO) metabolism and amino acid profile in plasma of omnivorous (OMN, = 25), lacto-ovo-vegetarian (LOV, = 25) and vegan (VEG, = 23) recreational runners. Oxidative stress was measured as malondialdehyde (MDA), NO as nitrite and nitrate, and various amino acids, including homoarginine and guanidinoacetate, the precursor of creatine. All analytes were measured by validated stable-isotope dilution gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric methods.

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Vegetarian diets have gained popularity in sports. However, few data exist on the status of micronutrients and related biomarkers for vegetarian and vegan athletes. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare the micronutrient status of omnivorous (OMN, = 27), lacto-ovo-vegetarian (LOV, = 26), and vegan (VEG, = 28) recreational runners.

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Background: In search of the right nutrition for the athlete, numerous nutritional strategies and diets were discussed over time. However, the influence of plant-based diets, especially veganism, on exercise capacity has not been clarified.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study to compare the exercise capacity of vegan (VEG, n = 24), lacto-ovo-vegetarian (LOV, n = 26) and omnivorous (OMN, n = 26) recreational runners.

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