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Trial Lecture – time and place
See Trial Lecture.
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Professor Maria Hopman, Radboud University, the Netherlands
- Second opponent: Associate Professor Inger-Lise Aamot Aksetøy, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Professor II Erik Sveberg Dietrichs, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Professor Kåre-Olav Stensløkken, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Professor II Jonny Hisdal, University of Oslo
Summary
Endurance training is generally beneficial for cardiovascular, skeletal and metabolic health. However, high training volumes at the elite level may increase the risk of low energy availability and relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs), with potential consequences for health and performance.
In the thesis Vascular function, bone health and breathing reserve in Norwegian female elite runners, Karoline Holsen Kyte and colleagues examined vascular health, bone health, lung function and breathing reserve in Norwegian female elite runners compared with age-matched inactive women.
Vascular function and structure were well preserved in the runners and were comparable to those of the inactive controls.
The runners had higher bone mineral density in the proximal femur and total body, whereas no difference was found in the lumbar spine. This suggests that the skeletal benefits of long-distance running are site-specific. Three runners had low bone mineral density in the lumbar spine. All were at risk of REDs and had a history of amenorrhea. Among the runners, proximal femur bone mineral density was positively associated with estradiol and negatively associated with symptoms of low energy availability.
The runners also had substantially lower breathing reserve at maximal exercise than the inactive women, despite similar lung function. This is the first study to investigate breathing reserve in female elite runners. The findings suggest that the respiratory system may represent a more important limitation to performance in female endurance athletes than previously recognized.
Overall, the findings underline the importance of preventing and detecting low energy availability and menstrual disturbances. Further research is needed to clarify the role of the respiratory system in the performance of female endurance athletes.
Additional information
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