Bone Turnover Responses to Changed Physical Activity

Abstract

The aim of the study was to compare bone turnover in male soccer players with controls and to follow bone turnover with changes in activity level. Serum-osteocalcin (OC), carboxy-terminal propeptide of type I collagen (PICP) and total alkaline phosphatases (tALP) were measured to assess bone formation. Bone resorption was detected by carboxyterminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP). Bone turnover of 12 male premier league soccer players (mean age 23 years, range, 17-34) exercising 12 hours/week (range, 8-15) were at the last day of the soccer season compared with 27 age- and gender-matched controls. Bone turnover was followed weekly during a 4-week resting period between two seasons, and a further 10 days following resumption of full training. Data are presented as mean +/- SEM. Both OC (22 +/- 12%) and ICTP (34 +/- 17%) were higher in the players compared with the controls at the end of the season (both P < 0.05, respectively). After 2 weeks of reduced physical activity among the athletes, the PICP levels were 21 +/- 4% (P < 0.05) lower and the ICTP levels 8 +/- 12% higher (P = 0.07) compared with baseline. OC, PICP, and tALP was then no different compared with controls and ICTP was higher than controls (P < 0.001). Ten days within the new season, there was a 23 +/- 5% increase in PICP (P < 0.001) and a 4 +/- 4% decrease in ICTP (P < 0.05) compared with the end of the resting period. In summary, male soccer players have higher bone turnover compared with age- and gender-matched controls. Changes in physical activity level were associated with changes in bone formation and resorption as evaluated by bone markers within weeks, and after 2 weeks rest, ICTP was higher in the athletes than the controls. We conclude that the higher age-related diminution in BMD, previously reported in former soccer players compared with age- and gender-matched controls, may be the result of increased bone resorption, evaluated by ICTP, compared with the controls.

Bone mineral density and bone turnover in young adult survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

“…High physical activity as reported by patients has been reported to be associated with high BMD in healthy individuals (44,45). The effects of physical activity on bone turnover are well known (46,47). The finding that self-reported leisure time physical activity did not correlate to bone mineral density measurements or markers of bone turnover in this study may indicate that this subjective estimation fails adequately to reflect the physical activity of these patients.…”

The effect of endurance exercise-induced lactacidosis on biochemical markers of bone turnover

“…Aerobic exercise such as long-distance running (42) or brisk walking (45) also lowers the concentrations of bone formation markers. However, the comparison of our results with other work is difficult because most previous studies analyzed training effects or compared different physical activity levels on bone metabolism (48)(49)(50). Obviously, a single session of exercise may have different effects on bone than regular exercise over a long period.…”

Body composition of English Premier League soccer players: Influence of playing position, international status, and ethnicity

“…This excess weight has a deleterious effect upon general locomotion and soccer-specific actions such as jumping to contest aerial possession of the ball. The fat-free compartment, which includes lean muscle mass and bone mineral mass, is important for the production of speed, strength and power, and for injury prevention (Arden & Spector, 1997;Karlsson et al, 2003). It has been reported that elite soccer players demonstrate greater bone and lean mass and lower body fat values than their non-soccer counterparts (Calbet, Dorado, Díaz-Herrera, & Rodríguez-Rodríguez, 2001;Wittich, Oliveri, Rotemberg, & Mautalen, 2001).…”