Levels of physical activity that predict optimal bone mass in adolescents: the HELENA study

Abstract

Background: Physical activity is necessary for bone mass development in adolescence. There are few studies quantifying the associations between physical activity and bone mass in adolescents.

Purpose: To assess the relationship between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and vigorous physical activity (VPA) and bone mass in adolescents.

Methods: Bone mass was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and physical activity by accelerometers in 380 healthy Spanish adolescents (189 boys, aged 12.5-17.5 years) from the HELENA-CSS (2006-2007). Subjects were classified according to the recommended amount of MVPA (<60 minutes or ≥60 minutes of MVPA/day). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was applied to calculate the relationship between physical activity and bone mass.

Results: Less than 41 and 45 minutes of MVPA/day are associated with reduced bone mass at the trochanter and femoral neck. More than 78 minutes of MVPA/day is associated with increased bone mineral density (BMD) at the femoral neck. Regarding VPA, more than 28 minutes/day for the hip and intertrochanter and more than 32 minutes/day for the femoral neck are associated with increased BMD.

Conclusions: The recommended amount of physical activity (minutes/day) seems insufficient to guarantee increased bone mass. With some minutes of VPA/day, bone adaptations could be obtained at different bone sites.