Bone mineral density and bone turnover in male masters athletes aged 40–64

Abstract

We evaluated areal bone mineral density (aBMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and markers of bone turnover in male competitive masters athletes representing different training profile in the past and at present, aged 40-64 (14 endurance runners, and 12 speed-power athletes), and non-sport controls (n = 13). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements of total body and regional aBMD, BMC and soft tissue composition were acquired. Serum concentrations of osteocalcin (OC), C-terminal crosslinking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT) and insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were measured. Adjusted total and regional aBMD and BMC (covariates: body mass, body height and age) were significantly greater in all measured regions in speed-power athletes than in endurance athletes and control subjects, but adjusted aBMD and BMC values were not significantly different between endurance athletes and controls. No differences in bone formation (OC), bone resorption (CTX), and serum concentrations of TNF-alpha, TT, FT and IGF-1 were noted. This suggests that weight-bearing exercise in young age and the training continuation in later life may be an important contributor to the aBMD and BMC in the middle age and in the elderly. It seems also that training-related bone differences in men are not caused by present alterations in bone turn-over or somatotropic effects. However, conclusions must be drawn with caution due to a large variability of biochemical markers.

Tibial Bone Strength is Enhanced in the Jump Leg of Collegiate-Level Jumping Athletes: A Within-Subject Controlled Cross-Sectional Study

“…jumping/sprinting) versus endurance (i.e. cross-country running) athletes [37–39]. In addition to having an enhanced background skeletal phenotype, jumpers exhibited side-to-side differences between their jump and lead legs at both the tibial diaphysis and distal tibia, with differences at the former site being greater than dominant-to-nondominant leg differences in cross-country runners.…”

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) increases insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in sedentary aging men but not masters’ athletes: an observational study

“…A single study to date has directly compared serum IGF-I in masters' athletes with controls [18], where the authors outline a lack of difference between endurance runners, speed-power athletes compared with moderately active controls. However, comparisons between masters' athletes and sedentary aging men have not been established.…”

Bone mass and bone metabolic indices in male master rowers

“…Our results are in line with those reported by Sanada et al [15] who demonstrated significantly higher BMD values in the ribs and lumbar spines of young and old rowers than in their control group. Some investigators have shown that athletes, after many years of training or after the end of their sports career, have higher BMDs and greater bone strength at the sites exposed to the greatest load as compared with their non-active controls [4,5,19,20]. In our previous study on male track and field athletes, we found that the aBMD values of the whole skeleton and the regions examined (spine, trunk, pelvis, arms, and legs) as well as the BMC values (total-body, arms, trunk, and legs) were significantly higher in speed-power athletes compared with endurance athletes or control subjects [4].…”

“…Some investigators have shown that athletes, after many years of training or after the end of their sports career, have higher BMDs and greater bone strength at the sites exposed to the greatest load as compared with their non-active controls [4,5,19,20]. In our previous study on male track and field athletes, we found that the aBMD values of the whole skeleton and the regions examined (spine, trunk, pelvis, arms, and legs) as well as the BMC values (total-body, arms, trunk, and legs) were significantly higher in speed-power athletes compared with endurance athletes or control subjects [4]. Korhonen et al [5] in a study examining systematically trained sprinters also showed greater bone strength, particularly bending rigidity in the anteroposterior plane, in comparison with a younger, physically active reference group.…”

“…Although the sensitivity of bone tissue to mechanical stimulation is highest during puberty and decreases thereafter, several studies performed in master athletes have shown higher bone mass and strength in comparison to non-active controls [4,5].…”