Effect of Eight-Month Exercise Intervention on Bone Outcomes of Young Opioid-Dependent Women.

Zenghui Ding,Yining Sun,Zuchang Ma,Xianjun Yang

doi:10.3390/ijerph182111336

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the bone response to an 8 month aerobic gymnastics training program in young opioid-addicted women. Design: Randomized controlled trial (parallel design). Setting: Women’s Specific Drug Rehabilitation Center in China. Patients: One hundred and two young women with low bone quality and previous opioid addiction were divided into two groups: (a) the low bone quality intervention experimental group (n = 55; age: 30.3 ± 6.1) and (b) the low bone quality observed control group (observation group; n = 47; age: 29.0 ± 5.3). Interventions: The intervention group took aerobic gymnastics regularly for 80 min/d and 5 d/wk for 8 months and completed follow-up testing. Main Outcome Measures: Substance use history and other life habits affecting bone quality were assessed by questionnaire-based interviews. Bone quality (stiffness-index, T-score, Z-score) was examined with quantitative ultrasound. Anthropometric characteristics (body weight, fat-free mass, fat mass) were obtained by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Results: After the 8 month intervention, the stiffness index of bone quality increased significantly (before: 82 ± 6, after: 108 ± 14, p < 0.05) in the experimental group. However, the bone quality did not change significantly in the controls (before: 79 ± 10, after: 77 ± 13, p > 0.05). The bone change in the difference group was significant (experimental group: 31.7% vs observation group: -0.03%). Fat mass decreased in the experimental group (experimental group: before: 19.6 ± 3.7 kg, after: 18.8 ± 4.0 kg, p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the change in fat-free mass was the determination of the change in bone quality in the experimental group. Conclusions: Our results suggested that aerobic gymnastics intervention can be an effective strategy for the prevention and treatment of drug-induced osteoporosis in detoxification addicts.

Highlights

After 8 months of exercise interventions in young opioid-dependent women, we found that calcaneal bone quality was significantly increased and fat mass was significantly decreased in the experimental group, which was not found in the controls
Through the design of the control groups, we demonstrated that the changes in bone and fat mass in the experimental group were not part of a natural recovery process
Our results further demonstrated this point of view in young opioid-dependent women with low bone quality

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Long-term opioid dependence in young people leads to drug-induced osteoporosis [1]. Long-term drug use probably affects bone metabolism, reduces trabecular bone mass, and suppresses hypothalamic secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, decreasing the level of gonadal hormones and leading to low bone quality and later-life osteoporosis [1,2]. Osteoporosis is an age-related disease characterized by a progressive loss of bone quality and microarchitectural deterioration, predisposing patients to fracture after minimal trauma or fall [3]. Osteoporosis is typically thought to develop as a result of normal age-related losses in bone, persons who fail to attain their maximum peak bone mass during critical growing years may increase their risk of having osteoporosis [4]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion