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Int J Sports Med 2010; 31(7): 511-515
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1243616
Clinical Sciences

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Bone Status in Professional Cyclists

F. Campion1 , A. M. Nevill2 , M. K. Karlsson1 , J. Lounana3 , M. Shabani3 , P. Fardellone4 , J. Medelli3
  • 1Clinical and Molecular Osteoporosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences and Orthopaedic Surgery, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
  • 2School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure, University of Wolverhampton, Walsall, West Midlands, UK
  • 3Department of Exercise Biology and Sports Medicine, University Hospital Nord, Amiens, France
  • 4Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Nord, Amiens, France
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision November 18, 2009

Publication Date:
29 April 2010 (online)

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Abstract

Professional cycling combines extensive endurance training with non weight-bearing exercise, two factors often associated with lower bone mineral density (BMD). Therefore BMD was measured with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in 30 professional road cyclists (mean (SD) age: 29.1 (3.4) years; height: 178.5 (6.7) cm; weight: 71.3 (6.1) kg; %fat mass: 9.7 (3.2)%; V˙O2max: 70.5 (5.5) ml·kg−1·min−1) and in 30 young healthy males used as reference (28.6 (4.5) years; 176.5 (6.3) cm; 73.4 (7.3) kg; 20.7 (5.8)%). Adjusting for differences in age, height, fat mass, lean body mass, and calcium intake by ANCOVA, professional cyclists had similar head BMD (p=0.383) but lower total body (1.135 (0.071) vs. 1.248 (0.104) g·cm−2; p<0.001), arms (0.903 (0.075) vs. 0.950 (0.085), p=0.028), legs (1.290 (0.112) vs. 1.479 (0.138); p<0.001), spine (0.948 (0.100) vs. 1.117 (0.147) g·cm−2; p<0.001), pelvis (1.054 (0.084) vs. 1.244 (0.142), p<0.001), lumbar spine (1.046 (0.103) vs. 1.244 (0.167), P<0.001), and femoral neck BMD (0.900 (0.115) vs. 1.093 (0.137), p<0.001) compared to reference subjects. Professional cycling appears to negatively affect BMD in young healthy and highly active males, the femoral neck being the most affected site (−18%) in spite of the elevated muscle contractions inherent to the activity.

Key words

bone density - dietary calcium - dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry - professional cycling - endurance training

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Correspondence

Dr. Frederic Campion

Clinical and Molecular

Osteoporosis Research Unit

Department of Clinical Sciences

and Orthopaedic Surgery

Lund University

Malmö University Hospital

SE-205 02 Malmö

Sweden

Phone: +4640331000

Fax: +4640336200

Email: fcampion@vo2max.org