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The Beneficial Effect of Leisure-Time Physical Activity on Bone Mineral Density in Pre- and Postmenopausal Women

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Abstract

Regular exercise and physical activity (PA) are known to be protective factors for maintaining bone mineral density (BMD) and preventing osteoporotic fracture. We investigated the associations between leisure-time PA and BMD in 2,903 premenopausal and 2,267 postmenopausal women in Korea. BMDs of the lumbar spine and femur were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Leisure-time PA levels were assessed by a self-administrated questionnaire, and a total metabolic equivalent (MET) score was obtained. Regardless of menopausal status, performing more than moderate levels of leisure-time PA or total MET score had a significant positive association with BMD at both the lumbar spine and femur. In the premenopausal group, women whose total MET score was 1,050–1,500 (MET-min/week) appeared to have the highest lumbar spine and femoral BMD (p < 0.001). The associations between PA level and lumbar spine and femoral BMD were also shown in the postmenopausal group (p < 0.001). In addition, we found dose–response relationships between increasing exercise level and femoral BMD in both the premenopausal and postmenopausal groups. Our results indicate that a more than moderate level of leisure-time PA plays a role in maintaining BMD.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from the National Cancer Center, Korea (0610550 and 0910220).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Management, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, 323 Insan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, 410-769, Republic of Korea

    Kyee-Zu Kim, Aesun Shin, Jeonghee Lee & Jeongseon Kim

  2. Center for Cancer Prevention and Detection, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Republic of Korea

    Seung-Kwon Myung

  3. Carcinogenesis Research Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Management, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Republic of Korea

    Seung-Kwon Myung

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  1. Kyee-Zu Kim
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  2. Aesun Shin
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Correspondence to Aesun Shin.

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Kim, KZ., Shin, A., Lee, J. et al. The Beneficial Effect of Leisure-Time Physical Activity on Bone Mineral Density in Pre- and Postmenopausal Women. Calcif Tissue Int 91, 178–185 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-012-9624-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-012-9624-3

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