Determinants of bone density and prevalence of osteopenia among female runners in their second to seventh decades of age

Abstract This is a cross-sectional study of spine and hip bone density (BMD) in 124 female athletes, aged 16–68 years, who trained for at least 3 hs/week. The aim was to document the effects of competitive running on BMD in women over a broad age range. Thirty-three subjects, aged 40 years, and who were now menstruating normally, 13 had previously been oligo- or amenorrheic. Fifty-two women T -score units to +1.2 units according to measurement site and age group). In contrast, young amenorrheic or oligomenorrheic runners had reduced bone density, particularly at the spine (mean T score positive influence, which was larger in the femoral measurement sites. There was no evidence of an effect of calcium intake or percent body fat on BMD at any site independent of these other effects. It is concluded that, with the consistent presence of normal premenopausal estrogen levels, running at least 3 hs/week substantially improves bone density, particularly at the proximal femur. This beneficial effect is reversed in the absence of the consistent past and current presence of normal menstrual function. There was no clear benefit of running seen on BMD in postmenopausal women, but premenopausal veteran athletes who started running after the age of 30 years were not disadvantaged compared with early starters.