Research
Energy balance
Allostatic load (AL) represents the cumulative physiological stress and cost of adaptation, and can be measured using an Allostatic Load Index (ALindex) to guide nutrition and exercise interventions.
For elite athletes, consider monitoring allostatic load using biomarkers (like CRP, resting heart rate, HDL, waist-to-height ratio, and HbA1c) to assess cumulative stress. This can help adjust training and nutrition to prevent overtraining and injury.
ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
The allostatic load can increase dramatically if the system has superimposed on it additional chronic loads (inactivity or overactivity) that exceed the capacity to cope... Allostatic overload has been defined as 'long-term energy-dependent functional and/or structural dysregulation and breakdown that arise due to chronic allostatic load, leading to accelerated aging, disease onset and progression, and increased mortality risk'
Why this rating
It is a theoretical framework proposed by the authors, supported by citations but not a primary clinical trial result.
Source
The 4Rs Framework of Sports Nutrition: An Update with Recommendations to Evaluate Allostatic Load in Athletes
Diego A. Bonilla et al. · Life · 2025
DOI 10.3390/life15060867
narrative_reviewCited 5×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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