Effects of aerobic plus explosive power exercises on bone remodeling and bone mineral density in young men

Introduction

Osteoporosis is generally considered as a disease affecting women but it is also a health problem for men. Osteoporosis is evidently a gradually increasing risk factor for men. The main reason of osteoporosis, a significant public health issue, is its relation with bone fracture [1]. It is known that physical activity has some significant osteogenic effects and these effects are related to modeling–remodeling courses and mechanical loads [2]. In recent studies based on age and gender three bone markers are discussed: BAP, PINP and CTX [3]. ALP, PINP, and BAP are considered the markers of osteoblastic activity; however, CTX is used as a bone resorption marker [4]. During the production of fibril, while Collagen Type 1 is being processed out of cells, at first amino terminal propeptide containing amino acid and carboxy terminal propeptide containing carbon are formed. These peptides circulate in circulation system and give information about the rate of type 1 collagen synthesis in the body as bone formation precursors. Serum PINP levels have a significant relation with the rate of bone formation, however, non-bone tissues also participate in the serum concentration of these components [5]. BAP is an enzyme secreted by osteoblasts and increased serum level of it indicates an increase in osteoblast activities. Moreover, it is also the result of bone resorption [3]. More than 90% of organic bone matrix consists of type 1 collagen which is synthesized within bone. In physiologically and pathologically increased bone resorptions type 1 collegen increasingly breaks down and there is a proportional increase in the levels of collagen fragments in blood. The specific related collagen type 1 fragments are C terminal telopeptide (CTX). Aspartic acid found in C terminal telopeptide turns into the form of aspartic acid (CTX) with age. These isomerized telopeptides are specific for break down of type 1 collagen domination in bone [6]. Vitamin D has an important role on bone metabolism for its effects on calcium homeostasis and bone mineralization process. Studies show that sufficient vitamin D level with exercises is necessary to increase and grow bone mass [2].

There is evidence that mechanical loading applied to bone affects bone formation and bone remodeling process [7]. Research has proven that resistance training is useful in increasing bone mineral density (BMD) [8], [9], [10]. Some researchers determined positive effects of aerobic exercises on bone mass [11]. In addition, the results of combined exercise programs indicated more positive results on increasing and maintaining bone mass [12], [13], [14]. However, literature about the pure effects of physical exercises carried out using body weight against gravity in a relatively short time on BMD and bone turn-over related markers in young males without taking any medical supplements is limited. Therefore; this study aims to examine the pure effects of aerobic jogging and explosive power exercises on body composition, maximal oxygen consumption (MaxVO₂), BMD and bone turn-over markers such as BAP, CTx and PINP in 20–40 year-old men.

Materials and methods

Results

EG members who aimed to run at 60–70% HRRmax had an average heart rate of ~147.28±2.73 beat·min⁻¹ (corresponding to ~64% of HRRmax) during the training. Mean walking speed for the whole program for EG was ~8.54±0.67 km/h. The RPE reported by EG was 14.17±1.17. Total distance run was 138495±5124 m. Pre-study characteristics of the subjects were not significantly different except for MaxVO₂ (Table 1).

Baseline characteristics of the participants were given as mean±SD in Table 1. Physical and physiological pre- and post-intervention descriptive statistics and comparisons of the two groups were given in Table 2.

Upon analyzing body fat percentage change by time together with the group effect in the model, no statistical significance was determined (p: 0.099). In the evaluation of BMI by time, BMI was found to be significantly decreased in EG (p<0.001); but the reduction in CG was not significant (p: 0.177). The change of VO₂max by time was evaluated a significant reduction was observed in EG (p<0.001); however, no significant change was observed in CG (p: 0.180).

Descriptive and comparative results of blood pre and post intervention values according to groups were given in Table 3. Models, by which between groups interventions of repeated measured values of Calcium, phosphor and PINP were controlled, were found not to be statistically significant (p values 0.447, 0.929, 0.085, respectively). Vitamin D levels of both groups were increased (p<0.001), however, this increase was more remarkable in EG and its vitamin D level is significantly higher (p: 0.020). The repeated measures of Bone ALP values were found to be significant in both groups (p<0.001), but between group difference was not significant (p: 0.512).

Pre and post-intervention BMD descriptive and comparative statistics of both groups were given in Table 4. Neck and total BMD repeated measures (within group) were found statistically significant (p: 0.036, 0.034, respectively); this increase was more remarkable in EG; neck and total BMD scores of EG were significantly higher (p<0.001, p: 0.005, respectively). Pre- and post-intervention total BMD scores of the groups are given in Figure 1.

Figure 1:

Pre- and post-intervention total BMD values of the groups.

L1–L2, L2–L3, L2–L4, wards, trochanter, and shaft BMD measures were evaluated but no significant changes were found.

Discussion

In the present study we investigated the effect of 10-weeks jogging plus explosive power exercise programs on bone turn-over-related markers and bone mineral density in men aged 20–40 years. The program had positive effects on cardiorespiratory function and some physical characteristics of the exercise group members. However, the most outstanding result of the study is the increase determined in the femoral neck, shaft, and total score BMD values, together with the significant increase in the bone formation marker BAP. Another remarkable finding is the increase in vitamin D, which has a positive effect on bone remodeling process.

According to Wolff’s law, stress or mechanical loading applied to the bone via the muscle and tendons has a direct effect on bone formation and remodeling [7]. There is evidence that resistance training has beneficial effects of on bone mineral density (BMD) [8], [9], [10]. However, the results of some studies revealed no increase in BMD after resistance training [18], [19]. Aerobic exercise also increases bone mass by using body weight as the resistance. Walking and running are great ways to increase or maintain bone mass while increasing cardiovascular fitness [11]. However, studies investigating the effects of aerobic training on BMD are quite scarce and have contradictory results. While low intensity walking exercise resulted in no significant change in bone mineral density [20], a 24-week program of aerobic high-impact loading exercise was found to increase the BMD of the L2–L4 and the femoral neck [12]. The researchers concluded that aerobics combined with high-impact exercise at a moderate intensity is effective in offsetting the decline in BMD in osteopenic postmenopausal women. Parallel to the aforementioned results, our 10-week aerobic jogging program combined with explosive power exercises resulted in significant increases in femoral neck, shaft and total score BMD. There is evidence in literature that exercise effect on BMD is site-specific [21], [22], [23]. The explosive power exercises included in our training program, especially jump squat and lateral leg raises may have been effective in increasing the BMD in femoral neck, shaft and total score; therefore, more site-specific exercises should be included to obtain optimal BMD increases especially in the back and low-back areas. When partial eta squared and observed power are taken into consideration for total score BMD, our exercise program is found to be significantly effective; but it has a low effect. In order to increase its effect, this program is advised to be carried out in longer periods.

In recent years, Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is frequently used to quantify BMD and to diagnose osteoporosis or osteopenia; however, it may not be so effective in monitoring the efficacy of a medical or exercise therapy in a few months. For this purpose, bone turnover markers are used in clinical practice. Biochemical markers of bone remodeling, a dynamic process of breakdown and renewal of bone in order to maintain mechanical integrity of skeleton, provide a dynamic measurement of skeletal status [24]. In our study we analyzed the following markers: BAP, PINP and CTx. BAP is a tetrameric glycoprotein found on the membrane of the osteoblast cell. Although the function of BAP is not fully understood, BAP levels are considered to reflect osteoblastic activity and can therefore be used as a marker of bone formation [25]. Increases in the bone formation marker PINP indicate increased osteoblast activity during bone metabolism. Serum CTx is a marker of osteoclast activity and is used to assess the level of bone resorption [26]. However, the results of the studies on the effects of exercise on these markers are conflicting. The EPIDOS study has determined the relevance of elevated CTx levels in predicting severe clinical events, such as hip fractures [6]. Herrmann and Herrmann stated that the elite endurance athletes exhibited significantly higher levels of CTx than controls and they suggested that elevated levels of CTx concentrations could be used to identify athletes at risk of osteoporosis and future fractures [27]. Kitareewan et al. [28] studied the effects of 3-month (30 min; 3 times/week) moderate intensity (50% of HRRmax) walking exercises on PINP and CTx in menopausal and menstrual participants (30–70 years). CTx levels decreased in both groups at the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd months; serum PINP did not significantly change except in the menstrual group in the 3^rd month. Elhabashy et al. [29], compared type1 diabetes mellitus and osteopeny patients to 38 healthy controls using aerobic exercises 3 times/week for 3 months. They found PINP and BMD significantly raised in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients. Another investigation revealed significant increases in serum Bone ALP in the training group following 4 months resistance training [30]. In our study we determined no significant changes in the assayed bone turn-over markers except for the increase in BAP levels in EG. The lack of significant changes between the exercising and control groups apart from MaxVO₂, body weight, and BMI makes the results we obtained on the positive effects of jogging plus explosive power exercises on bone turnover status difficult to interpret. Moreover, the relatively short intervention period of our study (10 weeks) may not have been long enough to allow completion of bone remodeling so that we could detect changes in all measured parameters. Although the physical activity may positively influence the bone remodeling, the biochemical process responsible by such effect and the exact reasons of these conflicting results remain unclear and speculative, but possible factors contributing to this inconsistent variability might be: type of assay kits used, the subjects’ different initial activity level, nutrition, gender, and seasonal variation, as well as the exercise duration, exercise intensity, exercise type, and the characteristics of the participants.

Researchers generally found BMD positively affected if the participants underwent a combined exercise program. For example, Lester et al. [13] reported that the combined (resistance and aerobic training) and the resistance training groups had significant increases in serum concentrations of bone ALP (15.8 and 16.6%, respectively) following 8 weeks of training [13]. In another study, resting levels of serum BAP increased following KAATSU-walk training. The researchers suggested that low-intensity exercise combined with KAATSU can influence bone metabolic markers [14]. A relatively low-intensity aerobic jogging was empowered by explosive power exercises in our program. Thus, the positive change in BAP may be attributed to the contribution of these exercises.

In literature, there are a few studies investigating the effects of different types of exercises on BMD related turn-over markers in both males and females in a mixed group [9] and making comparisons between genders [10]. Some researchers have focused on the effects of exercise programs on BMD values of females since osteoporosis is believed to be a disease specific to the female [8], [12], [13], [18], [19], [23], [27], [28]. However, osteoporosis is also a health problem for men. Even so, fewer researchers have studied exercise-bound effects in male population [4], [14], [20], [21], [22], [30]. In our study, we intended to highlight the pure effects of an exercise program without using any medication on BMD-related turn-over markers in young males.

Vitamin D plays an important role in bone metabolism and the normal functioning of the muscular system. The most important causes of decreased levels of vitamin D in the body include insufficient exposure to sunlight and insufficient dietary supply of this vitamin [31]. Athletes in various disciplines may have vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency depending on the sports discipline, study period and geographic location [32], [33], [34], [35]. Performing our outdoor exercise program in spring months might have an important role in the significant increase (9 vs. 22 ng/mL) in mean vitamin D level, which reached above the fracture risk level of 20 ng/mL. Therefore, such an exercise regimen is advisable to young adults to increase their vitamin D levels without a dietary supplement.

Despite the significant changes obtained in some bone remodeling parameters, we are aware that solid conclusions may not be drawn from this present investigation because of some limitations. First of all, the number of participants is relatively small. We could not include more participants because we had strict inclusion criteria. Besides, our exercise program required a careful monitoring, it would be impossible for the present exercise experts to control a more crowded group so closely.

Comparing the results of our study to the other trials has posed some difficulty because the majority of the interventions have been carried out with female population. In addition, quite a lot of studies included vitamin D or calcium supplementation in their research design; however, we excluded such volunteers since our main purpose was to highlight the pure exercise-bound effects on the measured parameters in 20–40 year-old males. Moreover, most of the research is on the effects of resistance exercises on bone remodeling process. Thus we had difficulty in finding research conducted with aerobic exercises to discuss our study results.

Maintaining peak bone mass until the older ages is vitally important. The role of strenuous training programs is very well documented in literature. However, following such programs may not be possible as the people get older. Therefore, having an exercise habit that can be the part of everyday life of anybody is crucial. Thus, exercising for 30–50 min per day, at least 3 days a week at moderate intensity provides health-related benefits. In this sense, young males may be advised to follow the exercise program we applied in this study to prevent themselves from osteoporosis.

Conclusion

Despite some limitations, the beneficial results as a result of jogging plus explosive power exercises, regarding increases in MaxVO₂, and reductions in BMI can be accepted as the benefits of this program to prevent participants against cardiovascular diseases. More importantly, the significant increases in femoral neck and total score; and the significant increases in BAP and vitamin D indicate the beneficial effect of a 30–50 min/day program performed 3 days per week, at moderate intensity on bone remodeling process. However, the role of aerobic jogging plus explosive power exercises, on all bone remodeling process remains to be investigated in more crowded groups from different ages and sexes. In order to have higher impacts of this program, it has to be performed in longer periods of intervention.