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Athletic girls more likely to have impaired bone structure if menstrual cycle stops

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ENDO 2011

BOSTON — Weakening of bone structure that occurs in young female athletes who have stopped menstruating can make them predisposed to breaking a bone regardless of the amount of weight-bearing exercise, according to a recently presented study.

“Given the high number of young women and girls involved in athletic activities and the fact that up to 24% of young female athletes may lose their periods, this finding represents a significant public health concern,” Madhusmita Misra, MD, pediatric endocrinologist at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, said in an Endocrine Society release. Misra presented the results at the 93rd Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society in Boston.

Investigators studied the bone density and microarchitecture of 34 endurance athletes aged 15 to 21 years who were involved in running or other weight-bearing activities as compared with 16 non-athletic controls. In the experimental group, 16 athletes had no periods and 18 had normal menstruation. In assessing bone structure, the investigators used high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT.

“Bone microarchitecture may provide information regarding bone health independent of bone mineral density,” Misra, who is also associate professor of pediatric at Harvard Medical School, stated in the release. “Your bone density score may not reveal the full risk of poor bone strength.”

The study found that bone structure is abnormal in nonmenstruating athletes when compared with menstruating athletes and non-athletes. Athletes who still got their menstrual periods did not have impaired bone structure. Nonmenstrating athletes were reported as having impairments in the cortical and trabecular bone at both sites studied: the tibia and one of the non-weight-bearing long forearm bones near the wrist.

“Our results are of particular concern to teenagers and young women, who are at a time in their lives when they should be actively accumulating bone and optimizing peak bone mass,” Misra stated.

For more information:

• Misra M. OR17-3. Presented at: The Endocrine Society 93rd Annual Meeting & Expo; June 4-7, 2011; Boston.

Disclosure: This study was funded by the National Institute of Child Health Development.

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