What is RED-S
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) is a clinically recognised syndrome that occurs when a person’s energy intake is insufficient to meet the energy demands required for maintaining optimal health, homeostasis, growth, daily activities, and athletic performance.
This state of relative energy deficit is often referred to as low energy availability (LEA), where the body has insufficient energy to support its normal physiological functions.
This can have a variety of health consequences including:
- Altered metabolic function.
- Menstrual disturbances and amenorrhea (loss of period).
- Amenorrheic athletes have 2 to 4 times greater risk for a stress fracture.
- Impaired bone health (increased osteoporosis risk).
- Reductions in immune system function.
- Reduced protein synthesis (ie for muscles and tendons).
- Impacts on cardiovascular health.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has developed two RED-S models. This first one shows 10 health consequences linked to RED-S:
Traditionally these negative health effects were mainly considered to be a problem in women. The concept of RED-S has been adapted and expanded from a previously identified syndrome, known as the Female Athlete Triad.
The female athlete triad is a medical condition defined as ‘the combination of disordered eating (DE) and irregular menstrual cycles eventually leading to a decrease in endogenous oestrogen and other hormones, resulting in low bone mineral density‘.
More recently the consequences beyond menstrual dysfunction and poor bone health, as well as the fact that that these problems may also be present in males, has led to the more encompassing term of ‘RED-S’ being used to refer to this syndrome.
Who is at risk?
Active men or women with disordered eating or with an eating disorder are at risk.
Disordered eating (DE) is a term that refers to a range of irregular eating behaviours but does not fit the full criteria to be diagnosed as a specific eating disorder.
The DE continuum can lead to clinical eating disorders (EDs), abnormal eating behaviours, distorted body image, weight fluctuations, medical complications and variable athletic performance.
DE can include (but isn’t limited to) things like:
- Chronic restrictive eating
- Excessive fasting
- Food-related anxiety
- Skipping meals
- Restricting entire food groups
- Negative preoccupation with food
- Negative preoccupation with weight and body image
- Misuse of laxatives or diuretics
Eating disorders (ie anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and others) are diagnosed according to specific and narrow criteria. The criteria can be found in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
Elite athletes are also at risk.
Up to 70% of elite athletes competing in a weight class or aesthetic sport (both male and female) are dieting with the intention of reducing weight before competition.
From an energy balance standpoint, weight loss is only possible when you are in a calorie deficit, i.e. consuming fewer calories than you are using.
On top of this, some type of disordered eating pattern often accompanies this weight loss attempt.
Other times, mismanaged programming for rapid reductions in body mass/fat, or inability to track and match calorie intake with extreme exercise commitments contributes to an energy imbalance.
Younger athletes and teenagers are also a high-risk category. In addition to the energy demands of their sport, they also have higher energy requirements to support growth and physical development throughout maturation.
Consequences
Similarly to The International Olympic Committee’s 10 health consequences linked to RED-S, they have also developed the 10 main performances consequences linked to RED-S.
The body is a complex working system. When one area is affected by low energy availability it can have downstream consequences in many areas.
Metabolic rate is downregulated as the body attempts to conserve energy.
The endocrine system is disrupted with energy being diverted away from the reproductive axis.
Hormones such as estrogen and testosterone can become deficient leading to concerns for fertility, bone mineral density, and hypogonadism.
Low bone mineral density comes with increased fracture risk and increased osteoporosis risk later in life.
Dislipidemia and increased LDL cholesterol levels have negative effects on the cardiovascular system.
Signs & Symptoms
Indications that you might be suffering from RED-S are highly individual but can include:
Low body mass/low body fat, weight loss, lack of normal growth and development, menstrual dysfunction, recurrent injuries and illnesses, decreased performance, mood changes.
There are various screening tools available for health professionals to assist in evaluating individuals at risk of, or with suspected RED-S such as the RED-S CAT.
Early detection is important in the diagnosis of RED-S, and a high level of caution is warranted in physique, weight class, lean body, and endurance sports.
Energy Availability
LEA plays a crucial role in the development of RED-S. The presence and causes of the LEA should be a target when aiming to prevent/treat RED-S.:
However, there are currently no standardised guidelines to determine Energy Availability (EA).
To estimate Energy Intake (EI) tools such as a food diary, food recall and calorie counting can be used.
To measure exercise energy expenditure (EEE) exercise logs, GPS, HR sensors, and pedometers can be used.
FFM can be quantified by methods such as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and anthropometry.
Measurement and interpretation of each of these components requires expertise and is generally imprecise, and should be considered contextually with each athlete.
Treatment Strategies of RED-S
The treatment of LEA should involve an increase in EI – that is, eating more calories. Increasing energy availability can also be achieved by a reduction in exercise. A combination of both is likely the best strategy.
There have been some small intervention studies showing success in treating RED-s by introducing an energy-rich supplement (ie a shake or a liquid meal) in combination with a small reduction in training, or the introduction of an additional rest day.
It should be noted that this strategy may fail to address some of the other factors that can contribute to RED-S such as underlying psychological elements, or poor overall dietary practices.
A practical treatment approach to address low EA incorporates all these treatment modalities.
For example, adding ∼300–600 kcal/day to current intake can help address poor dietary practices such as fueling around exercise sessions and diet composition. If underlying psychological issues are a concern these should be addressed by relevant health practitioners.
Vitamin D and calcium play critical roles in laying down bone tissue. These supplements may also be useful in the context of sufferers of RED-S.
Building on The IOC consensus statement: beyond the Female Athlete Triad—Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), it is recommended that affected athletes should include 1500 mg/day of calcium.
This can be done through dietary sources if possible, but supplementation may otherwise be required.
The Endocrine Society Guideline recommends maintaining vitamin D [25(OH)D] blood levels above 32–50 ng/mL, with 1500–2000 IU/day of vitamin D.
Vitamin D deficiency is common in the general population and can be even more of a concern in athletes, especially if the majority of their training is done indoors, or during winter when there are fewer hours of sunlight.
Differing Caloric Needs
There is no consensus regarding the cut‐off for optimal EA in athletes.
Below are some of the values that are most commonly cited in the existing literature for calculating the energy requirements of athletes.
The awareness of RED-S has improved in recent years and awareness continues to grow. Early recognition of signs and symptoms is critical for the early detection and treatment of this health and performance threatening syndrome. As with many aspects of health and performance, good dietary management is a key factor in preventing and treating RED-S.