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• Meta-analysis of cross sectional studies Date verified

  Athletes classified with low energy availability sat lower on body mass, BMI and bone density and higher on cortisol, while leptin did not separate the groups

  A meta-analysis pooled 11 cross sectional studies covering 1006 athletes, about half of them classified as having low energy availability. The classified group differed on body composition, bone density Z score and cortisol. Leptin showed no significant difference, and because every study measured everything at one moment, none of it establishes cause.

  European Journal of Clinical · Han et al. · Yongin University · 19 August 2026 · PMID 42618779

  energy-availabilityfemale-athletesendurance-fuelingmetabolismresearch-methodsbone-health
• Conference presentation, not peer reviewed 4 Aug 2026 is the date of the NutraIngredients report of the Growth Asia Summit 2026 presentation.

  Half of the female athletes surveyed take no carbohydrate at all during training

  A conference presentation citing Gatorade Sports Science Institute data reported that 50% of female athletes surveyed consumed zero carbohydrate during training, 43% started workouts already underhydrated, and only 20% replaced sodium losses afterwards. None of the figures can yet be checked against a method section.

  Badshah et al. · 4 August 2026

  female-athletescarbohydrateenergy-availabilityendurance-fueling
• Randomised crossover Posted online 16 July 2026. Assigned to the 1 August 2026 print issue. Cite the July date.

  Holding carbohydrate high during four days of low energy availability halved the drop in IGF-1

  Sixteen adults spent two separate four day blocks at the same low energy availability, once on 1.5 and once on 4.0 grams of carbohydrate per kilogram per day. The endocrine response tracked the carbohydrate, the shift in fuel use did not.

  Journal of Applied Physiology · Nusser et al. · Technical University of Munich · 16 July 2026 · PMID 42461760

  carbohydrateenergy-availabilitymetabolismfemale-athletes
• Narrative review Date as listed in the digest; not independently verified at source.

  Four nutrition claims aimed at active women outrun their evidence

  A narrative review examined four claims circulating on social media about female athlete nutrition. It found limited evidence behind several of them, but not for the rigid sex specific rules built on top of them.

  Proceedings of the Nutrition · Matkin-Hussey et al. · 1 July 2026 · PMID 42383324

  female-athletesgeneral-nutritionenergy-availability
• Randomised double blind crossover Published 13 May 2026, verified on PubMed. The paper drew press attention in late July. Cite the May date.

  Glucose plus fructose kept its oxidation edge even in underfueled athletes

  In a double blind crossover trial, a 2:1 glucose to fructose blend oxidized more of the ingested carbohydrate than glucose alone, and the advantage held after 48 hours on half energy intake. Better oxidation did not rescue performance after the deficit.

  The Journal of Nutrition · Barney et al. · 13 May 2026 · PMID 42134413

  carbohydrateendurance-fuelingenergy-availability