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Effect of antioxidants combined to resistance training on BMD in elderly women: a pilot study

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Abstract

Summary

We determined the effect of antioxidants and resistance training on bone mineral density of postmenopausal women. After 6 months, we observed a significant decrease in the lumbar spine BMD of the placebo group while other groups remained stable. Antioxidants may offer protection against bone loss such as resistance training.

Introduction

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the effects of antioxidant supplements combined to resistance training on bone mineral density (BMD) in healthy elderly women.

Methods

Thirty-four postmenopausal women (66.1 ± 3.3 years) were randomized in four groups (placebo, n = 7; antioxidants, n = 8; exercise and placebo, n = 11; and exercise and antioxidants, n = 8). The 6-month intervention consisted in antioxidant supplements (600 mg vitamin E and 1,000 mg vitamin C daily) or resistance exercise (3×/week). Femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD (DXA) and dietary intakes (3-day food record) were measured before and after the intervention. A repeated measure ANOVA and non-parametric Mann–Whitney U tests were used.

Results

We observed a significant decrease in the placebo group for lumbar spine BMD (pre, 1.01 ± 0.17 g/cm2; post, 1.00 ± 0.16 g/cm2; P < 0.05 respectively) while it remained stable in all other groups. No changes were observed for femoral neck BMD.

Conclusions

Antioxidant vitamins may offer some protection against bone loss in the same extent as resistance exercise although combining both does not seem to produce additional effects. Our results suggest to further investigate the impact of antioxidant supplements on the prevention of osteoporosis.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to express our thanks to the nurse Martine Fisch for her contribution to data collection and all study participants. We also gratefully acknowledge Arkopharma for providing vitamin supplements, the Canadian Institute of Health Research and Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec.

Funding

This work was supported by the Canadian Diabetes Association. IJD holds a salary grant from the Canadian Institute of Health Research and AK from the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec.

Conflicts of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre on Aging, Sherbrooke Geriatric University Institute, 1036 Belvedere Street South, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada, J1H 4C4

    A. Chuin, M. Labonté, D. Tessier, A. Khalil, F. Bobeuf, C. Y. Doyon & I. J. Dionne

  2. Faculty of Sciences and Technical of Sport and Physical Activities, Université d’Orléans, Orléans, France

    A. Chuin & N. Rieth

  3. Service of Geriatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada

    D. Tessier, A. Khalil & F. Bobeuf

  4. Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada

    C. Y. Doyon & I. J. Dionne

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  1. A. Chuin
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  2. M. Labonté
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  3. D. Tessier
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  4. A. Khalil
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  8. I. J. Dionne
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to I. J. Dionne.

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Chuin, A., Labonté, M., Tessier, D. et al. Effect of antioxidants combined to resistance training on BMD in elderly women: a pilot study. Osteoporos Int 20, 1253–1258 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-008-0798-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-008-0798-5

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