COMPARISON OF BONE MINERAL DENSITY IN FEMALE MOUNTAIN CYCLISTS, ROAD CYCLISTS, AND RUNNERS

Osteoporosis and osteopenia are far more common in women than men. The levels of bone mineral density (BMD) in women mountain cyclists are unknown. PURPOSE: To compare the BMD of recreational road (n = 12) and mountain (n = 15) women cyclists with age- and training volume-matched women runners (n = 17), 20-40 years of age. METHODS: Forty-six women volunteered to take part in the study. All participants completed food frequency questionnaires that assessed calcium, vitamin D, and caffeine intake and a life-long physical activity questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, and age) and 1-repetition maximal tests to find leg and hand strength were conducted. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to assess BMD of the radius, femoral neck, spine, hip, and total body. RESULTS: Fifteen mountain cyclists who rode 9.4 ± 4.5 hours per week for 7.8 ± 4.9 years, 12 road cyclists who rode 8.2 ± 2.8 hours per week for 8.5 ± 3.5 years, and 17 runners who ran 4.6 ± 1.7 hours per week for 11.5 ± 4.9 years met the inclusion criteria. Road cyclists and runners had significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lower calcium intake than mountain cyclists. Body mass, lean body mass, fat mass, and handgrip score were positively correlated with BMD. Runners had significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher BMD at the femoral neck than mountain cyclists. There were no significant differences in BMD between mountain and road cyclists. CONCLUSION: Recreationally active and competitive mountain cyclists do not experience greater osteogenic benefits than age- and training-matched road cyclists. Running provided a greater osteogenic stimulant at the femoral neck than mountain cycling. Most participants did weight-bearing physical activity through childhood and adolescence and had healthy levels of BMD at all sites tested. Body mass was found to be the most important determinant of BMD at all sites, indicating that underweight individuals are most susceptible to osteopenia and osteoporosis.

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