Examination of the energy availability level of adolescent female volleyball players according to the beginning and end of the season

The aim of this study was to assess the energy balance, energy availability, body composition macronutrient intake of adolescent female volleyball players at the beginning and at the end of the season. Fourteen adolescent females aged 12-16 (14.5± 1.29) years participated in the study. At the beginning and at the end of the season, food consumption and physical activity records were taken and body composition was analyzed. Energy and macronutrient intakes were determined with food consumption records and energy expenditure was determined with physical activity records for 4 days (2 training days, 1 rest day, 1 match day) following the laboratory visit. Resting metabolic rate was predicted by the Schofield equation. Body composition was analyzed by dual x-ray absorptiometry. Paired samples t-test was used to compare data at the beginning and at the end of the season. Energy intake (beginning of the season: 1244 ± 312 kcal; end of season: 1410 ± 435 kcal) and total energy expenditure (beginning of the season: 2662 ± 311 kcal; end of season: 2733 ± 342 kcal) at the beginning and end of the season were similar (p>0.05). Participants had similar levels of negative energy balance (beginning of the season: -1443 ± 346 kcal; end of season: -1378 ± 518 kcal) and low energy availability (beginning of the season: 21.29 ± 7.61 kcal/kg/FFM/day; end of season: 23.50 ± 11.16 kcal kg/FFM/day) at the beginning and end of the season (p>0.05). With respect to macronutrient intakes, the participants had similar carbohydrate (beginning of the season: 2.52 ± 0.93 g/kg/day; end of the season: 2.54 ± 1.10 g/kg/day) and protein intakes (beginning of the season: 0.82 ± 0.31 g/kg/day; end of the season: 0.90 ± 0.28 g/kg/day) at the beginning and end of the season (p>0.05). When body composition was evaluated; total body fat percentage (beginning of the season: 30.36 ± 4.11%; at the end of the season: 30.55 ± 4.45%), total lean body mass (beginning of the season: 40.70 ± 6.69 kg; at the end of the season: 40.54 ± 5.82 kg), total lean soft tissue mass (beginning of the season: 38.44 ± 6.37 kg; at the end of the season: 38.25 ± 5.51 kg) were similar at the beginning and end of the season (p>0.05). Bone mass, on the other hand, was higher at the end of the season (2.30 ± 0.32 kg) than at the beginning of the season (2.26 ± 0.33 kg) (p<0.05). The findings of this study showed that adolescent female volleyball players had negative energy balance, low energy availability and inadequate macronutrient intake during the season. This study suggests that body composition and nutrient intake of adolescent female volleyball players should be monitored individually throughout the season. adolescent female volleyball players, energy deficit, energy availability, macronutrient intake, body composition