Impact of recreational physical activity on bone mineral density in middle-aged men

Physical activity is known to exert beneficial effects on general health status of young, adult and elderly populations. Exercise (aside from genetic, hormonal, nutritional and pathological factors) also influences bone mineral density (BMD). Unfortunately, the association between physical exercise and BMD in adult population is controversial. Our aim was to assess relations between recreational physical activity and BMD in middle-aged men. We performed densitometry and hormonal measurements (total testosterone, free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, estradiol) in a homogenous group of 38 subjects. Among them, we distinguished 22 who had not engaged in any physical activity, and 16 who had recreationally exercised for about 10 years. Both groups did not differ in regard to hormonal status. Similarly, densitometry did not reveal any statistically significant differences in BMD between both groups of men. Upon our observation, we can hypothesize that recreational physical activity does not affect bone mineral density in middle-aged men.