Influence of Sport Specific Loading and Race on Bone Mineral Density in Young Collegiate Female Basketball Players

Abstract

The positive effects of mechanical loading stress on bone mineral density (BMD) is well documented and increases in bone mass during peak bone accrual may reduce the risk of osteoporosis later in life. Although Black women are known to have higher BMD compared to White women across the lifespan, the literature is inconclusive regarding the potential athlete by race interactive effects on BMD in college-aged women. PURPOSE: To characterize the effects of habitual loading on whole body and regional measures of BMD among Black and White female basketball players as compared to sedentary age- and BMI-matched controls. METHODS: University of Illinois female Athletes (N= 21, 14 Black, 7 White, 20.1±1.5 yrs, BMI=23.6±2.7 kg/m2) and age, race and BMI-matched sedentary female Controls (N= 21, 9 Black, 12 White, 19.9±1.3 yrs, BMI=23.0±2.3 kg/m2) underwent dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans of the whole body (WB), proximal femur (PF) and femoral neck (FN), lumbar spine (LS) and forearm (ARM). RESULTS: There was no race by athlete interaction effects for any bone measure (p≥0.05). As expected, Blacks had 10.4% higher average BMD at all sites than Whites (p≤0.05) and Athletes had a 14.9% higher BMD at all sites than Controls (p≤0.05). Black Athletes had 10.7% higher average BMD than White Athletes and 9.8% higher BMD than Black Controls at all sites (p≤0.05). White Athletes had 13.4% higher BMD than White Controls at the WB, PF, FN and LS sites (p≤0.05) but not at the ARM (p≥0.05). CONCLUSION: As expected from previous literature, high-level athletic training and Black racial status both independently favorably impact bone health. The effects of athletic status and race appear to be additive on BMD with Black Athletes having the highest BMD measures compared to White Athletes and Black Controls.