Abstract

To date, no research has explored the effects of low energy availability (EA) on cognitive performance using 32 dietary and exercise regimens relevant to athletes. Twenty female participants (10 eumenorrheic, 10 oral contraceptive [OC] users) completed three, 3-day conditions: 1) controlled-balanced EA without exercise (BAL; 45 kcal·kg·LBM-1·day-1), 2) diet-induced low EA without exercise (DIET; 15 kcal·kg·LBM-1·day-1) and 3) exercise-induced low EA (EX; 15 kcal·kg·LBM-1·day-1, including 30 kcal·kg·LBM-1·day-1 treadmill running at 70% V̇O2max). A cognitive test battery was completed before and after each 3-day condition. Mental rotation test accuracy improved in the BAL condition, but there was a decline in accuracy in the EX condition (BAL, +2.5%; EX, -1.4%; P = 0.042, d = 0.85). DIET (+1.3%) was not different to BAL or EX (P > 0.05). All other measures of cognitive performance were not affected by condition (P > 0.05) and OC use did not affect cognitive responses (P > 0.05). Accuracy in the mental rotation test was impaired when low EA was induced through increased exercise energy expenditure. All other aspects of cognition were unaffected by three days of low EA through diet or exercise. OC use did not mediate the effect of low EA on cognition.