The strength of weight-bearing bones is similar in amenorrheic and eumenorrheic elite long-distance runners

Piasecki, J ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9758-6295, Ireland, A, Piasecki, M ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7804-4631, Cameron, J, McPhee, JS and Degens, H, 2018. The strength of weight-bearing bones is similar in amenorrheic and eumenorrheic elite long-distance runners. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 28 (5), pp. 1559-1568. ISSN 0905-7188

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Abstract

Background: Regular intense endurance exercise can lead to amenorrhea with possible adverse consequences for bone health.

Objective: We compared whole-body and regional bone strength and skeletal muscle characteristics between amenorrheic (AA: n=14) and eumenorrheic (EA: n=15) elite adult female long distance runners and non-athletic controls (C: n=15).

Study design and Participants: Participants completed three-day food diaries, dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) and isometric maximal voluntary knee extension contraction (MVC).

Results: Both athlete groups had a higher caloric intake than controls, with no significant difference between athlete groups. DXA revealed lower bone mineral density (BMD) at the trunk, rib, pelvis and lumbar spine in the AA than EA and C. pQCT showed greater bone size in the radius and tibia in EA and AA than C. The radius and tibia of AA had a larger endocortical circumference than C. Tibia bone mass and moments of inertia (Ix and Iy) were greater in AA and EA than C, whereas in the radius only the proximal Iy was larger in EA than C. Knee extensor MVC did not differ significantly between groups.

Conclusions: Amenorrheic adult female elite long-distance runners had lower BMD in the trunk, lumbar spine, ribs and pelvis than eumenorrheic athletes and controls. The radius and tibia bone size and strength indicators were similar in amenorrheic and eumenorrheic athletes, suggesting that long bones of the limbs differ in their response to amenorrhea from bones in the trunk.

Item Type: Journal article
Alternative Title: Amenorrhea effects on bone and muscle [running title]
Publication Title: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
Creators: Piasecki, J., Ireland, A., Piasecki, M., Cameron, J., McPhee, J.S. and Degens, H.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Date: May 2018
Volume: 28
Number: 5
ISSN: 0905-7188
Identifiers:
Number
Type
10.1111/sms.13062
DOI
Divisions: Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by: Jill Tomkinson
Date Added: 28 Jun 2018 13:20
Last Modified: 28 Jun 2018 13:20
URI: https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/33932

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