The whole-body and skeletal muscle metabolic response to 14 days of highly controlled low energy availability in endurance-trained females

This study investigated the effects of 14 days low energy availability (LEA) versus optimal energy availability (OEA) in endurance-trained females on substrate utilization, insulin sensitivity, and skeletal muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity; and the impact of metabolic changes on exercise performance. Twelve endurance-trained females (V̇O_2max 55.2 ± 5.1 mL × min⁻¹ × kg⁻¹) completed two 14-day randomized, blinded, cross-over, controlled dietary interventions: (1) OEA (51.9 ± 2.0 kcal × kg fat-free mass (FFM)⁻¹ × day⁻¹) and (2) LEA (22.3 ± 1.5 kcal × kg FFM⁻¹ × day⁻¹), followed by 3 days OEA. Participants maintained their exercise training volume during both interventions (approx. 8 h × week⁻¹ at 79% heart rate max). Skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiratory capacity, glycogen, and maximal activity of CS, HAD, and PFK were unaltered with LEA. 20-min time trial endurance performance was impaired by 7.8% (Δ −16.8 W, 95% CI: −23.3 to −10.4, p <.001) which persisted following 3 days refueling post-LEA (p <.001). Fat utilization was increased post-LEA as evidenced by: (1) 99.4% (p <.001) increase in resting plasma free fatty acids (FFA); (2) 270% (p =.007) larger reduction in FFA in response to acute exercise; and (3) 28.2% (p =.015) increase in resting fat oxidation which persisted during submaximal exercise (p <.001). These responses were reversed with 3 days refueling. Daily glucose control (via CGM), HOMA-IR, HOMA-β, were unaffected by LEA. Skeletal muscle O₂ utilization and carbohydrate availability were not limiting factors for aerobic exercise capacity and performance; therefore, whether LEA per se affects aspects of training quality/recovery requires investigation.