A prospective study of bone mass and body composition in female adolescent gymnasts.
OBJECTIVE
To examine changes in bone and body composition of adolescent female artistic gymnasts (GYM; n = 7), level 5+, compared with nongymnast controls (CON; n = 10) over 3 years.


METHODS
Areal bone mineral density (aBMD; g/cm(2)), bone mineral content (BMC; g) and bone area (cm(2)), of the total body (TB), total proximal femur (TPF), trochanter (Tr), femoral neck, lumbar spine (LS), and distal radius were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Fat-free soft tissue mass (FFST; g), fat mass (g), and percent body fat (%FAT) were also assessed.


RESULTS
No initial differences in height or weight between GYM and CON were observed, and both groups demonstrated parallel increases in these parameters over time (P <.05; h(2) >or=0.15). At baseline, GYM possessed significantly lower %FAT and higher aBMD at all sites (except TB; P <.05; h(2) >or=0.15). Over 3 years, GYM increased more than CON (P <.05; eta (2) >or=0.15) in TB, Tr, and TPF aBMD, TB and LS BMC, and FFST.


CONCLUSIONS
Female adolescents participating in competitive artistic gymnastics training over 3 years have enhanced rates of aBMD, BMC and FFST accrual.
Department of Foods and Nutrition, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
Emma M
EM
Laing
Jennifer A
JA
Massoni
Sharon M
SM
Nickols-Richardson
Christopher M
CM
Modlesky
Patrick J
PJ
O'Connor
Richard D
RD
Lewis
D000293:Adolescent; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006173:Gymnastics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health