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In peripubertal girls, artistic gymnastics improves areal bone mineral density and femoral bone geometry without affecting serum OPG/RANKL levels

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Abstract

Summary

Peripubertal artistic gymnasts display elevated areal bone mineral density at various bone sites, despite delayed menarche and a high frequency of menstrual disorders, factors that may compromise bone health. The concomitant improvement in femoral bone geometry and strength suggested that this type of physical activity might have favourable clinical impact.

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of artistic gymnastics (GYM) on areal bone mineral density (aBMD), femoral bone geometry and bone markers and its relationship with the osteoprotegerin (OPG)/rank-ligand (RANKL) system in peripubertal girls.

Methods

Forty-six girls (age 10–17.2 years) were recruited for this study: 23 elite athletes in the GYM group (training 12–30 h/week, age at start of training 5.3 years) and 23 age-matched (±6 months; leisure physical activity ≤ 3 h/week) controls (CON). The aBMD at whole body, total proximal femur, lumbar spine, mid-radius and skull was determined using dual-X-ray absorptiometry. Hip structural analysis (HSA software) was applied at the femur to evaluate cross-sectional area (CSA, cm2), cross-sectional moment of inertia (CSMI, cm4), and the section modulus (Z, cm3) and buckling ratio at neck, intertrochanteric region and shaft. Markers of bone turnover and OPG/RANKL levels were also analysed.

Results

GYM had higher (5.5–16.4%) non-adjusted aBMD and adjusted aBMD for age, fat-free soft tissue and fat mass at all bone sites, skull excepted and the difference increased with age. In the three femoral regions adjusted for body weight and height, CSA (12.5–18%), CSMI (14–18%), Z (15.5–18.6%) and mean cortical thickness (13.6–21%) were higher in GYM than CON, while the buckling ratio (21–27.1%) was lower. Bone markers decreased with age in both groups and GYM presented higher values than CON only in the postmenarchal period. A similar increase in RANKL with age without OPG variation was observed for both groups.

Conclusion

GYM is associated not only with an increase in aBMD but also an improvement in bone geometry associated with an increase in bone remodelling. These adaptations seem to be independent of the OPG/RANKL system.

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Acknowlegements

The authors would like to express their thanks to the Sète Regional Pole of Artistic Gymnastics, the athletes and their parents and the Comité Départementale de Gymnastique (Hérault) for their participation. We thank also Marie-Agnès Martin for her excellent technical assistance, and Roche Diagnostics and Immunodiagnostic Systems for providing the biochemical kits. This work was supported by grants from the Comité de Protection et de Lutte contre le Dopage (CPLD), the Institut Danone, and the Direction Régionale de la Jeunesse et des Sports (DRDJS) Montpellier.

Conflicts of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Service d’Hormonologie, Hôpital Lapeyronie, CHU Montpellier et UMI, Montpellier, France

    L. Maïmoun, O. Coste, P. Philibert, F. Paris & C. Sultan

  2. Direction Régionale de la Jeunesse, des Sports et Cohésion Sociale, Montpellier, France

    O. Coste

  3. Service de Médecine Nucléaire, Hôpital Lapeyronie, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France

    D. Mariano-Goulart

  4. Centre d’Investigation Clinique et Département des Maladies Endocriniennes, CHRU Montpellier, Montpellier, France

    F. Galtier

  5. CIC 1001, INSERM, Montpellier, France

    F. Galtier & T. Mura

  6. Centre d’Investigation Clinique et Département d’information Médicale, CHRU Montpellier, Montpellier, France

    T. Mura

  7. Service de Rhumatologie, Hôpital Cochin, APHP Paris, Paris, France

    K. Briot

  8. Unité d’Endocrinologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, CHU Montpellier et UMI, Montpellier, France

    F. Paris & C. Sultan

  9. Unité d’Endocrinologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, 191 avenue Doyen Gaston Giraud, 34000, Montpellier, France

    C. Sultan

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  1. L. Maïmoun
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  2. O. Coste
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  3. D. Mariano-Goulart
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  4. F. Galtier
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  8. F. Paris
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  9. C. Sultan
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Correspondence to C. Sultan.

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Maïmoun, L., Coste, O., Mariano-Goulart, D. et al. In peripubertal girls, artistic gymnastics improves areal bone mineral density and femoral bone geometry without affecting serum OPG/RANKL levels. Osteoporos Int 22, 3055–3066 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-011-1541-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-011-1541-1

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