[Physical performance and bone mineral density in a group of young Lebanese adults]

Introduction : The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between performances obtained in different physical tests and bone parameters [bone mineral density [BMD] and bone mineral content [BMC]] in a group of young Lebanese adults

Methods: One hundred and six young Lebanese adults [45 women and 61 men] whose ages range from 17 to 34 years participated in this study. Weight and height were measured, and body mass index [BMI] was calculated. Daily calcium intake, daily protein intake and physical activity level [h/week] were evaluated using validated questionnaires. The level of physical performance was measured using several physical tests: vertical-jump test, standing long jump test, 3-jumptest, 5-jump-test and 1-RM half-squat. Body composition, bone mineral content [BMC] and BMD at whole body [WB], lumbar spine [L2-L4], total hip [TH] and femoral neck [FN] were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry [DXA]

Results: In women, height, lean mass, 1- RM half-squat and performances obtained in three physical tests [vertical jump test, 5-jump-test and 1-RM half squat] were positively correlated to BMD and BMC. In men, lean mass and 1-RM half-squat were positively correlated to BMD and BMC

Conclusion: This study suggests that lean mass and maximum strength obtained in half-squat are positively correlated to BMD in young adults

Geometric indices of hip bone strength in male professional soccer players

The aim of this study was to compare geometric indices of hip bone strength in male professional soccer players and controls. Twenty- three male professional soccer players and 21 male sedentary subjects whose ages range between 18 and 30 years participated in this study. Weight and height were measured, and body mass index [BMI] was calculated. Daily calcium intake and physical activity were evaluated using validated questionnaires. Hip bone mineral density was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry [DXA]. To evaluate hip bone geometry, DXA scans were analyzed at the narrow-neck [NN], the intertrochanteric [IT] region and the femoral shaft [FS] by the Hip Structure Analysis [HSA] program. Cross sectional area [CSA], an index of axial compression strength, cross sectional moment of inertia [CSMI], an index of structural rigidity, section modulus [Z], an index of bending strength, cortical thickness [CT] and buckling ratio [BR] were measured from bone mass profiles. CSA, CSMI, Z and CT of the three regions [NN, IT and FS] were higher in soccer players compared to controls. After adjustment for either age, body weight, height or physical activity duration [h/week], CSA, CSMI, Z and CT of the three regions remained higher in soccer players compared to controls. This study suggests that, in young adult males, soccer practice is associated with gr Aim of the study: eater axial strength, bending strength and structural rigidity indices at the hip

Geometric indices of hip bone strength in overweight and control elderly men

Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to compare geometric indices of hip bone strength in overweight and control elderly men

Methods and results: This study included 16 over- weight [Body mass index [BMI] > 25 kg/m2] elderly men [aged 65-84 years] and 38 age-matched controls [BMI < 25 kg/m2]. Body composition and bone miner- al density [BMD] were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry [DXA]. To evaluate hip bone geometry, DXA scans were analyzed at the femoral neck, the intertrochanteric region, and the femoral shaft by the Hip Structure Analysis [HSA] program. Cross sectional area [CSA], an index of axial compression strength, section modulus [Z], an index of bending strength, cross sectional moment of inertia [CSMI], an index of structural rigidity, cortical thickness [CT] and buckling ratio [BR] were measured from bone mass profiles. Lean mass, body weight, fat mass and BMI were higher in overweight men compared to controls [p < 0.001]. CSA and Z were higher in overweight subjects compared to controls [p < 0.05] at the three regions [femoral neck, intertrochanteric and femoral shaft]. After adjustment for age, CSA and Z of the intertrochanteric region and the femoral shaft remained significantly higher in overweight men compared to controls [p < 0.05]. After adjustment for either body weight, BMI or lean mass, there were no differences between the two groups [overweight and controls] regarding the HSA variables [CSA, CSMI, Z, CT and BR] of the three regions

Conclusion: This study suggests that overweight elderly men have greater indices of bone axial and bending strength in comparison to controls at the intertrochanteric and the femoral shaft

Relative importance of lean mass and fat mass on bone mineral density in a group of Lebanese elderly men

The aim of this study was to determine the relative importance of lean mass and fat mass on bone mineral density [BMD] in a group of Lebanese elderly men. Seventy Lebanese men [aged 65-84 years] participated in this study. Body weight and height were measured and body mass index [BMI] was calculated. Body composition [lean mass, fat mass and fat mass percentage] was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry [DXA]. Bone mineral content [BMC] of whole body [WB] and BMD of WB, total hip [TH], femoral neck [FN], ultra distal [UD] radius and 1/3 radius were measured by DXA. The ratios WB BMC/height and WB BMD/height were calculated. Fat mass and lean mass were found to be positively correlated to WB BMC, WB BMC/height, and to WB, TH, FN, UD radius and 1/3 radius BMD. After controlling for age and height, fat mass was more strongly correlated to TH BMD and FN BMD than lean mass while lean mass was more strongly correlated to WB BMC, WB BMD, UD radius BMD and 1/3 radius BMD than fat mass. This study suggests that, in elderly men, fat mass is a stronger determinant of TH and FN BMD than lean mass while lean mass is a stronger determinant of WB BMC, WB BMD, UD radius BMD and 1/3 radius BMD than fat mass