Abstract
Endurance exercise training is often reported to beneficially affect bone mineral density (BMD) in women. We addressed this question and the potential interaction with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in 20 sedentary (SED), 20 physically-active (PA), and 24 athletic (ATH) postmenopausal women(age=64±6 yrs). ATH ran 30±10 miles/wk for 15±4 yrs. PA underwent 6±3 hrs/wk low- to moderate-intensity exercise for 12±7 yrs, SED were not undergoing regular PA. The groups were of similar age, weight, years postmenopausal and HRT duration. ATH had lower%fat than SED and PA, and had higher VO2max values (ATH 39±5; PA 26±3; SED 23±4 ml/kg/min). DEXA-determined BMD was significantly higher at 6 of 16 sites in women on HRT, whereas BMD was significantly higher, by 5-10%, at 12 of 16 sites for PA women vs. SED and ATH. BMD was higher in PA women for total body, arms, legs, ribs, pelvis, trochanter, total spine, and spine L1-L4 sites. BMD at all sites was similar in SED and ATH. These data suggest that long-term low- to moderate-intensity PA increases BMD in postmenopausal women, but that athleticism and its associated high-intensity, high mileage training does not result in enhanced BMD in postmenopausal women.
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