Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, Vol 54, Issue 9 M451-M455, Copyright © 1999 by The Gerontological Society of America
The inability of hormone replacement therapy or chronic running to maintain bone mass in master athletes
SA Hawkins, RA Wiswell, SV Jaque, N Constantino, TJ Marcell, KM Tarpenning, ET Schroeder and DM Hyslop
Department of Exercise Science, University of Southern California, USA.
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated equivocal findings on the
effect of chronic running on bone mass in post-menopausal women. The
purpose of this study was to determine the effect of chronic running alone
and in conjunction with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on bone mineral
density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Forty- three women [15
premenopausal 48.1 +/- .4 yrs (Pre); 13 postmenopausal 57.3 +/- 2.3 yrs
(Post); and 15 HRT-treated postmenopausal 56.8 +/- 1.5 yrs (PostE)] served
as subjects. All were chronic runners (duration > 5 yrs, > 10 miles
per week). BMD was determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, VO2 max
on a treadmill, body composition by hydrostatic weighing, knee strength by
KinCom dynamometer, and training and menstrual history by questionnaire.
Analysis of covariance with Tukey post hoc tests was utilized to compare
the groups. RESULTS: The groups were similar in body weight, VO2 max, years
training, and miles run per week. Pre and PostE did not differ in total or
spine BMD. However, Pre had greater hip BMD than PostE (.973 +/- .03 vs
.876 +/- .03 g/cm2; p < .05). As well, Pre had greater BMD of the hip
(.973 +/- .03 vs .805 +/- .03 g/cm2; p < .05), spine (1.047 +/- .04 vs
.870 +/- .04 g/cm2; p < .05), and total body (1.115 +/- .02 vs .996 +/-
.03 g/cm2; p < .05) than Post. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that
(a) chronic running + HRT is insufficient to protect hip BMD and (b)
chronic running alone provides no protection for bone mass in
postmenopausal women.
