Trabecular bone density and menstrual function in women runners

Osteoporosis results in decreased bone mineral mass and reduced trabecular bone density. Although its etiol ogy remains unknown, studies have revealed differen tial changes in the bone mineral densities of postmeno pausal women, anorexic women, and amenorrheic fe male athletes. Correlations have also been made be tween estrogen deficiency and osteoporosis in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. In order to examine the possibility of osteopenia, a group of 36 female runners between the ages of 15 and 44 years were evaluated for bone mineral density, menstrual function, and dietary habits. Serum calcium, phospho rus, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were also determined for each participant, as were complete blood counts. Using dual photon absorptiometry, all participants underwent a 20 minute scan of the lumbar spine with specificity to the L1-14 vertebrae. The 36 subjects included 19 oligomenorrheic and 17 eumenor rheic women. Results of bone density analyses re vealed that the oligomenorrheic...