The effect of exercise on bone mineral density in premenopausal female athletes compared with non-athletes
Year: 2001
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objectives. The objective of this preliminary study was to determine the effect of exercise, diet, menstrual status and anthropometry on the bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine, hip and forearm of young Caucasian female athletes aged 20 - 30 years. Design. Nine female athletes and a control group (N = 9) were recruited within the same range for age and body mass index (BMI). Weight, height and skinfolds were measured. Dietary intakes were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. An activity and a medical questionnaire were also completed. BMD was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at the lumbar spine, left hip and forearm. Results. No significant difference between reported nutrient intakes of athletes and controls was found. Significant negative correlations were found between spine BMD of the whole group (N = 18) and total calcium intake, as well as between forearm BMD and luteal phase, menstrual cycle and number of active exercise hours per week. Athletes had a significantly lower forearm BMD, lower percentage body fat and longer active exercise time per week. Women with a history of amenorrhoea (N = 3) had a lower average BMD and exercised significantly more than the eumenorrhoeic women. Conclusion. It is suggested that active weekly exercise, menstrual status and percentage body fat may all have a direct or indirect effect on the forearm BMD of white female athletes. Exercising, premenopausal women are advised to lower lifestyle risk factors that may lead to a low BMD at a young age, to maintain a percentage body fat of > 12 - 14%, and if amenorrhoea is present, to undergo medical examination to identify the cause. However, because of the limited number of subjects in the study, no definite recommendations can be made.
Authors: Vorster, Hattie, Venter, C, Beetge, G, Steyn, H
Language: English
Subfield: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2273854205