CORVALLIS, Ore. – Active woman with menstrual dysfunction between the ages of 18 and 35 may be eligible to participate in a new study and an intervention at Oregon State University.

Lynn Cialdella Kam, a doctoral student working with Melinda Manore, professor in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, is studying the effects of menstrual status on muscle function. She is seeking active, non-smoking women who have exercised regularly for the last two years who no longer menstruate or have had less than eight cycles in the last year due to physical activity.

Participants receive a no-cost bone density scan, maximal aerobic capacity test, muscle strength and power assessments, body composition analysis, quadricep fiber type determination, nutrition and energy expenditure measurements, and a full blood panel including analysis of iron, lipids, and vitamins.

In addition, participants will receive $50 upon completion of the initial measurements, including the muscle biopsy, $50 after completion of post-intervention measures, and $25 after each follow-up (nine and 12 months). Persons invited to participate in the six-month intervention will also receive $25 for each month of participation.

The study involves six visits, approximately 90 minutes each, over a one-month period for all participants and includes a blood draw, muscle biopsy and assessments of aerobic capacity, muscle strength and power, bone health, menstrual status, body composition, dietary intake and energy expenditure.

Participants also have the choice of doing a six-month intervention, which consists of weekly one-hour visits, daily consumption of a carbohydrate-protein nutrition shake, and dietary intake/energy expenditure assessment at mid-intervention.

“What we want to know is, will a six-month dietary intervention restore menses, improve muscle, as well as improve bone and hormonal health?” Kam said.

If interested, contact Lynn Kam at (541) 497-7189 or [email protected]

Source: 

Lynn Kam,
541-497-7189

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