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Int J Sports Med 2007; 28(5): 431-436
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-924514
Clinical Sciences

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Current Physical Activity is Related to Bone Mineral Density in Males but not in Females

M. Högström1 , A. Nordström1 , 2 , H. Alfredson1 , R. Lorentzon1 , K. Thorsen1 , 3 , P. Nordström1 , 4
  • 1Department of Surgical and Perioperative Science, Sports Medicine Unit, University Hospital of Northern Sweden, Umeå, Sweden
  • 2Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital of Northern Sweden, Umeå, Sweden
  • 3Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Örnsköldsvik Hospital, Örnsköldsvik, Sweden
  • 4Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, University Hospital of Northern Sweden, Umeå, Sweden
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Publication History

Accepted after revision: July 20, 2006

Publication Date:
16 November 2006 (online)

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Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between high-, medium-, and low-impact physical activity in males and females at the time of peak bone mineral density in young adulthood. The cohort consisted of 62 male medical students (aged 28.1 ± 3.9) and 62 female medical students (aged 25.1 ± 3.9). The bone mineral density (aBMD, g/cm2) of the total body, femoral neck, and lumbar spine, and the bone mineral content (BMC, grams) and area (cm2) of the femoral neck and lumbar spine was measured using dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry. Volumetric BMD (vBMD, mg/cm3) of the femoral neck and lumbar spine was estimated. The total amount of physical activity per week, which was recorded in a questionnaire, was divided into high-impact, medium-impact, and low-impact activity. In the male cohort, hours of high-impact physical activity per week was associated with aBMD and BMC of all sites (r = 0.27 - 0.53, p < 0.05) and bone area of the femoral neck (r = 0.38, p < 0.01). Total amount of physical activity per week was associated with aBMD of the total body and femoral neck, BMC of femoral neck and lumbar spine, femoral neck vBMD, and the lumbar spine area (p < 0.05 for all). Using multiple linear regression, high-impact physical activity was independently associated with aBMD (beta = 0.27, p < 0.05) and BMC (beta = 0.34, p < 0.01) of the femoral neck. In the female cohort there was no association between amount or type of physical activity to aBMD, BMC, vBMD, or the bone area of any site. Instead body weight, lean body mass, or fat mass were significantly related to aBMD and all BMC sites in this group. The results of the present study suggest that present physical activity level has a stronger relation to different aspects of bone mass in the male compared to the female adult skeleton.

Key words

Male - female - bone mineral density - physical activity

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MD, PhD Peter Nordström

Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine
Medicine Umeå University

90185 Umeå

Sweden

Fax: + 46 90 13 56 92

Email: peter.nordstrom@idrott.umu.se