Effects of Gynecological Age on LH Sensitivity to Energy Availability

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this experiment is to investigate whether the dependence of luteinizing hormone pulsatility on energy availability declines during adolescence.

Detailed Description
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The incidence of menstrual disorders declines during adolescence. This has long been attributed to the gradual maturation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, but the mechanism of this maturation is not known. Ovarian function critically depends on the pulsatile secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) by the hypothalamus and on the consequent and more readily assessed pulsatility of luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion by the pituitary. LH pulsatility has been shown to depend on energy availability, operationally defined as dietary energy intake minus exercise energy expenditure. The effects of energy availability on LH pulsatility are thought to be mediated by certain metabolic substrates and hormones. Comparison: By manipulating diet and exercise regimens, contrasting energy availability treatments of 10 and 45 kilocalories per kilogram of fat-free mass per day are being administered to adolescents with 5-8 years of gynecological age and to adults with 14-18 years of gynecological age for five days in the early follicular phase of separate menstrual cycles. Effects of low energy availability on LH pulsatility and on selected metabolic substrates and hormones are being measured.

Official Title
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Dietary Energy Requirements in Physically Active Men and Women, Objective 4B: Effects of Gynecological Age on LH Sensitivity to Energy Availability

Conditions
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Amenorrhea, Anovulation, Infertility, Starvation

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Energy availability


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: 5-8 or 14-18 years of gynecological age menstrual cycles of 26 to 32 days for the previous 3 months luteal phase length >11 days 18-32% body fat Exclusion Criteria: smoking oral contraceptives hematocrit <35% diet with <35 or >55 kcal/kgFFM/day of energy habitually performing more than 60 minutes/week of aerobic exercise histories or evidence of heart, liver, or kidney disease, diabetes, menstrual or thyroid disorders, pregnancy, lactation, and congenital or acquired orthopedic abnormalities

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 34 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Behavioral: Energy availability|nan|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Differences in 24h LH pulse frequency, 24h LH pulse amplitude and 24h LH mean concentration in blood samples drawn q10' for 24 hours after 5 days of treatment |  |  | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Differences in 24h average glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate, insulin, cortisol, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-I, tri-iodothyronine, and leptin concentrations in blood samples drawn q10' for 24 hours after 5 days of treatment |  |  | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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LH pulsatility, energy availability, exercise, diet, gynecological age