Description of three female 24-h ultra-endurance race winners in various weather conditions and disciplines

A The incidence of exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH) is higher in women than in men. We present three cases of a very mild post-race EAH in female winners of three 24-h ultra races in various weather conditions and disciplines with post-race plasma sodium [Na⁺] levels of 134 mM (Case 1), 133 mM (Case 2) and 134 mM (Case 3). Moreover, Case 1 and Case 2 showed elevated creatine kinase concentrations of >10,000 U/l with an absence of renal function abnormality. The common characteristics were female sex, veteran recreational category, long race experience in the particular sports discipline, excellent race performance, similar total weekly training hours and the presence of luteal phase of the menstrual cycle during the race. Hematocrit and hemoglobin decreased and post-race K⁺/Na⁺ ratio in urine increased in all three cases. In addition, an increased body mass and a decreased urine specific gravity and urine osmolality suggested over-drinking in Case 1. A decrease in the glomerular filtration rate and creatine clearance accompanied by an increase in urine [Na⁺] may contribute to fluid overload in Cases 2 and 3. Furthermore, urine osmolality reached a level indicating antidiuretic hormone secretion in all the present cases. Therefore, we recommend that race medical personnel should not forget to look for EAH even in fast and experienced female athletes and during races in different environmental conditions

Validity of Optical Device Lipometer and Bioelectric Impedance Analysis for Body Fat Assessment in Men and Women

The aims of this study were to validate different subcutaneous adipose tissue layers (SAT-layers) measured by lipometer for body fat percentage (BF %) assessment with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and to compare the validity of lipometer and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). The subjects were 21 male (18–60 years) and 19 female (23–54 years) healthy Estonian volunteers. SAT-layers were measured by lipometer using 15 standardized SAT-layers. Sum of arms, legs and trunk SAT-layers were calculated and compared with arms, legs and trunk fat percentage measured by DXA. BF% was calculated by BIA using the equations of Lukaski et al. and Chumlea et al. for both genders and the equations of Segal et al. for males and Van Loan and Mayclin for females. BF % measured by DXA was significantly higher than calculated by Lukaski et al. and Chumlea et al. in both genders. The correlation was highest between the BF% measured by DXA and using Segal et al.3 equation in males (r=0.94) and Van Loan and Mayclin equation in females (r= 0.84). High relationship was observed between BF% measured by DXA and sum of 15 SAT-layers (r=0.88 in males and r= 0.91 in females). Stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that two selected SAT-layers explained 85.9% and 86.7% (R2 x 100) of the total variance in BF% measured by DXA in males and females, respectively: {BF% = 1.308 neck + 0.638 hip + 6.971 (males; SEE = 2.59) and BF% = 1.152 hip + 1.797 calf + 12.347 (females; SEE=3.46) }. In conclusion, lipometer and BIA give a similar mean estimation of BF% when compared with DXA. However, there is a wide range of variance for the upper and lower limits of agreement between the methods, and the methods are not interchangeable. Lipometer seems to be superior to BIA

Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Topography (SAT-Top) Development in Children and Young Adults

The importance of body composition measurements to elucidate the dynamics of related diseases in pediatrics is gaining recognition. The methods used should not expose subjects to high doses of radiation and require substantial cooperation. The Lipometer is a new optical device that enables the non-invasive, quick and safe determination of the thickness of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) layers (in mm) at any site of the human body. The topographic specification of 15 evenly distributed body sites, which makes it possible to precisely measure subcutaneous body fat distribution, is called subcutaneous adipose tissue topography (SAT-Top). SAT-Top was determined in more than 1000 children and young adults between the ages of 7 and 21. In this paper we describe the SAT-Top development of these subjects through different age groups and the differences between male and female SAT-Top development in each age group. SAT layer profiles (medians of the 15 body sites) for boys and girls in age group 1 (7–9 yrs) show a very similar pattern for both sexes, followed by slightly decreasing SAT layer thicknesses in boys and increasing values in girls in the subsequent age groups. Between age group 3 (11–13 yrs) and age group 7 (19–21 yrs) male and female SAT-Top is significantly different. The discriminating power between male and female SAT-Top was investigated by stepwise discriminant analysis, which provided no significant results for age group 1 (7–9 yrs), about 73% correct classification for age group 2 (9–11 yrs) and 3 (11–13 yrs), 83% for age group 4 (13–15 yrs), and about 91–93% for the following age groups (15–21 yrs).It is known that SAT development is the same in both sexes until puberty, when girls gain relatively more fat mass than boys to reach a higher body-fat percentage as adults. This paper presents a precise description of SAT development in boys and girls from childhood to adolescence, which provides a basis for further investigations