Effect of exercise program and calcium supplements on low bone mass among young Indian women- A comparative study

Low bone mass is a major health concern among young women nowadays due to sedentary lifestyle and lack of calcium rich food intake. Therefore there is an increase in the incidence of LBM among young university women so our main purpose of study was to compare effects of exercise program and calcium supplements on bone mass in young women. This single blinded, cross sectional study included data collection in the form of SOS T-scores at distal radius for 104 young university women of mean age 22.3 years using Sunlight Omnisense Bone Sonometer 7000S. Of these, 62 women with low bone mass were included in a 3 month study but 60 subjects completed the study. They were randomly divided into 3 groups: exercise group [n=21], calcium supplementation group [n=21] and control group [n=20]. All participants were evaluated pre and post protocol for T-score distal radius and midshaft tibia. After measuring SOS T-score of 104 subjects; we found that 60.57% had low bone mass and remaining 39.43% had normal bone mass. After 3 months, the exercise group showed significant improvement in distal radius SOS T-score [t=5.10, P<0.001], at midshaft tibia [t=3.71, P<0.001] followed by improvement in calcium group at distal radius [t=6.28, P<0.001], midshaft tibia [t=2.33, P<0.05] as compared to control group which showed a marginal increase. Exercise group showed more improvement in T-scores than calcium and control group. Exercise is important modifiable factor to improve bone accretion at this age and reduce risk of developing osteoporosis related debilitating conditions later in life

Prediction equation for calculating fat mass in young Indian adults

Accurate measurement or prediction of fat mass is useful in physiology, nutrition and clinical medicine. Most predictive equations currently used to assess percentage of body fat or fat mass, using simple anthropometric measurements were derived from people in western societies and they many not be appropriate for individuals with other genotypic and phenotypic characteristics. We developed equations to predict fat mass from anthropometric measurements in young Indian adults. Fat amass was measured in 60 females and 58 males, aged 20 to 29 yrs by using hydrostatic weighing and by simultaneous measurement of residual lung volume. Anthropometric measure included weight [kg], height [m] and 4 skinfold thickness [STs [mm]]. Sex specific linear regression model was developed with fat mass as the dependent variable and all anthropometric measures as independent variables. The prediction equation obtained for fat mass [kg] for males was 8.46+0.32 [weight] - 15.16 [height] +9.54 [log of sum of 4 STs] [R2=0.54, SEE=3.42 kg] and -20.22 +0.33 [weight] + 3.44 [height] + 7.66 [log of sum of 4 STs] [R2+0.72, SEE=3.01 kg] for females. A new prediction equation for the measurement of fat mass was derived and internally validated in young Indian adults using simple anthropometric measurements

Effects of progressive resistance training and aerobic exercise on type 2 diabetics in Indian population

The Indian population faces a high risk for diabetes because of a high genetic predisposition and susceptibility to environmental insults. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of 16 weeks of Progressive resistance training [PRT] and Aerobic exercise [AE] on glycemic control, blood pressure, heart rate, muscle strength and control of type 2 diabetics. A total of 30 type 2 diabetics, 14 females and 16 males, aged between 40-70 years, were randomly assigned to the 16 weeks supervised PRT [n=10], or AE [n=10] or Control group [n=10]. Pre- and post-outcome measures included glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c], fasting blood glucose [FBG], blood pressure [BP], heart rate [HR] and isometric muscle strength of the right hamstring and quadriceps muscles. Plasma glycosylated hemoglobin levels decreased significantly [p=0.002] both in the PRT [7.57 +/- 1.4 to 5.74 +/- 0.8] and in AE group [8.11 +/- 0.9 to 6.78 +/- 1.3]. FBG decreased by 39.9% in PRT group by14.3% in AE group and by 18.6% in the control group. PRT group exhibited significant reductions in blood pressure [p=0.002 for systolic BP, p<0.001 for diastolic BP] and heart rate [p=0.007]. Improvements in isometric muscle strength and balance were seen in both exercise groups. PRT is a more effective form of exercise training than AE for improving glycemic control, blood pressure and heart rate in type 2 diabetics