Abstract

This study was conducted to determine if bone mineral mass ist influenced by the level of physical fitness in active, healthy, postmenopausal women from 50 through 59 years of age. In vivo neutron activation analysis (NAA) was used to measure calcium or bone mineral in the trunk and proximal femurs. The NAA measurement is expressed as calcium bone index (CaBI), which relates the subjects Ca value to the estimated mean value for normal subjects of the same size based on height and arm span. The normal CaBI is 1.00 +/- 0.12 (ISD). The level of physical fitness was determined by 1) calculating the maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), attained by a graded exercise test on the treadmill, and 2) evaluating the muscle strength in performing one repetition maximum in the bench press and leg press. The above-average fit group (VO2max more than 29 ml/kg/min) when compared to the average fit group (VO2max 21-29 ml/kg/ min) had significantly higher CaBI, bench press and leg press. There was significant correlation between VO2max and CaBI. The findings suggest that level of physical activity may modify the amount of bone loss in postmenopausal women. Verf.-Referat