Abstract
Vertebral fractures are a common burden amongst elderly and late middle aged people. Vertebral cross-sectional area (CSA) is a major determinant of vertebral strength and thus associated with vertebral fracture risk. Previous studies suggest that physical activity affects vertebral CSA. We aimed to investigate the relationship between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) from adolescence to middle age and vertebral dimensions in adulthood. We utilized the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, of which 1188 subjects had records of LTPA at 14, 31 and 46 years, and had undergone lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the mean age of 47 years. Using MRI data, we measured eight dimensions of the L4 vertebra. Socioeconomic status, smoking habits, height and weight were also recorded at 14, 31 and 46 years. We obtained lifetime LTPA (14–46 years of age) trajectories using latent class analysis, which resulted in three categories (active, moderately active, inactive) in both genders. Linear regression analysis was used to analyze the association between LTPA and vertebral CSA with adjustments for vertebral height, BMI, socioeconomic status and smoking. High lifetime LTPA was associated with larger vertebral CSA in women but not men. Further research is needed to investigate the factors behind the observed gender-related differences.
Highlights
Osteoporosis is a bone deficiency disease with a high global prevalence among aging population and the elderly
No other statistically significant findings were obtained. In this population-based birth cohort study, our main finding was that a high level of lifetime leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) from 14 to 46 years of age was associated with larger vertebral cross-sectional area (CSA) in middle-aged women
Our additional analyses showed that the participation frequency of ≥4 times/week at age 31 was associated with larger vertebral CSA in women at 47 years
Summary
Osteoporosis is a bone deficiency disease with a high global prevalence among aging population and the elderly. Vertebral bone strength is determined by architectural, material and geometrical properties[5,6,7,8]. Causing changes in these factors, age affects vertebral strength to a large extent[8,9,10]. Bone mineral density (BMD), which is a major indicator of vertebral strength[3], has been found to decrease in both genders throughout age[6]. Mechanical loading of vertebrae has, in addition, been associated with increased vertebral dimensions and bone mass[8]
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