Premenopausal women show increased bone growth after light exercise

Premenopausal women who exercise more than 2 hours per day are more likely to have increased bone health over sedentary women, according to recent study by investigators in Saudi Arabia.

“Physical activity training is conceptually simple, inexpensive and can serve practical purposes, including reducing the risk of low bone mass, osteoporosis and consequently fractures,” Mohammad-Salleh M. Ardawi, PhD, FRCPath, lead author and professor at the Center of Excellence for Osteoporosis Research and Faculty of Medicine at King Abdulazuz University in Saudi Arabia, stated in a press release. “Our study found that even minor changes in physical activity were associated with clear effects on serum levels of sclerostin, IGF-1 and bone turnover markers.”

The team studied 58 women engaged in physical activity training 4 days a week over 8 weeks. They studied their bone mineral density as well as bone turnover markers, levels of sclerostin and s-IGF-1 and compared them with 62 patients who did not participate in training, according to the abstract.

Physical activity in the women reduced the serum level of sclerostin by 36.8% and increased serum-insulin-like growth factor-1 (s-IGF-1) by 107%, according to the study abstract. Researchers found that bone turnover markers also increased with more than 2 hours of exercise. Sclerostin is known for inhibiting bone growth, while s-IGF-1 promotes growth, Ardawi stated.

“We also found physical activity training that enhances mechanical loading in combination with anabolic therapeutic agents will have added positive effect on bone health, particularly bone formation,” Ardawi stated.

Reference:

Ardawi M-SM Rouzi AA, Qari MH. Physical activity in relation to serum sclerostin, insulin-like growth factor-1, and bone turnover markers in healthy premenopausal women: a cross-sectional and a longitudinal study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012. Published online before print Aug. 3, 2012. doi:10.1210/jc.2011-3361.