Bone mineral density and menstrual function in adolescent female long-distance runners

Background: In recent years, endurance running as a sport has become very popular. This trend has led to the identification of specific problems during the female athlete's life, especially with regard to reproduction, delayed sexual mafuration, menstrual abnormalities and early osteoporosis....

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Main Authors: S.H. Hunehont, T. Kluyts
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2003-10-01
Series:South African Family Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/1873
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author S.H. Hunehont
T. Kluyts
author_facet S.H. Hunehont
T. Kluyts
author_sort S.H. Hunehont
collection DOAJ
description Background: In recent years, endurance running as a sport has become very popular. This trend has led to the identification of specific problems during the female athlete's life, especially with regard to reproduction, delayed sexual mafuration, menstrual abnormalities and early osteoporosis. Methods: Bone mineral density (BMD) and menstrual function were compared between a group of long-distance female adolescent runners (N:17) from five schools in Pretoria and an age-matched inactive control group of adolescents (N:18). Groupswere matched for body height, mass index (BMI l8 to 25) and eating habits.The SAHARA Clinical Sonometer was used to measure BMD on the calcaneus. Menstrual function was denoted by onset of menarche, duration of menstrual periods (days) and number of menstrual periods per year. Results: Baseline BMD was significantly higher in the athletic group: mean = 0,6126g/cm3 and SD = 0,1217, versusn on-athletes: mean = 0,5329g/cm3 and SD = 0,0733 (p = 0,0228).There was a significant delay in the onset of menarche in the athletes: mean = 14,873 and SD = 1,37798, in comparison to the non-athletes: mean = 13,468 and SD = 1,2194 (p = 0,0030). The athletes had a significantly higher incidence of menstrual abnormalities(p = 0,005). Conclusions: BMD at the focus of strain for running (the legs) is higher in endurance adolescent female runners. Endurance runners have a significantly higher incidence of menstrual abnormalities.
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spelling doaj-art-2fa79d831f1f4b408041c202f789c38d2025-08-20T03:46:57ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042003-10-01451010.4102/safp.v45i10.18731420Bone mineral density and menstrual function in adolescent female long-distance runnersS.H. HunehontT. KluytsBackground: In recent years, endurance running as a sport has become very popular. This trend has led to the identification of specific problems during the female athlete's life, especially with regard to reproduction, delayed sexual mafuration, menstrual abnormalities and early osteoporosis. Methods: Bone mineral density (BMD) and menstrual function were compared between a group of long-distance female adolescent runners (N:17) from five schools in Pretoria and an age-matched inactive control group of adolescents (N:18). Groupswere matched for body height, mass index (BMI l8 to 25) and eating habits.The SAHARA Clinical Sonometer was used to measure BMD on the calcaneus. Menstrual function was denoted by onset of menarche, duration of menstrual periods (days) and number of menstrual periods per year. Results: Baseline BMD was significantly higher in the athletic group: mean = 0,6126g/cm3 and SD = 0,1217, versusn on-athletes: mean = 0,5329g/cm3 and SD = 0,0733 (p = 0,0228).There was a significant delay in the onset of menarche in the athletes: mean = 14,873 and SD = 1,37798, in comparison to the non-athletes: mean = 13,468 and SD = 1,2194 (p = 0,0030). The athletes had a significantly higher incidence of menstrual abnormalities(p = 0,005). Conclusions: BMD at the focus of strain for running (the legs) is higher in endurance adolescent female runners. Endurance runners have a significantly higher incidence of menstrual abnormalities.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/1873female adolescent endurance runnerprernal.ure osteoporosisbone mineral density.
spellingShingle S.H. Hunehont
T. Kluyts
Bone mineral density and menstrual function in adolescent female long-distance runners
South African Family Practice
female adolescent endurance runner
prernal.ure osteoporosis
bone mineral density.
title Bone mineral density and menstrual function in adolescent female long-distance runners
title_full Bone mineral density and menstrual function in adolescent female long-distance runners
title_fullStr Bone mineral density and menstrual function in adolescent female long-distance runners
title_full_unstemmed Bone mineral density and menstrual function in adolescent female long-distance runners
title_short Bone mineral density and menstrual function in adolescent female long-distance runners
title_sort bone mineral density and menstrual function in adolescent female long distance runners
topic female adolescent endurance runner
prernal.ure osteoporosis
bone mineral density.
url https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/1873
work_keys_str_mv AT shhunehont bonemineraldensityandmenstrualfunctioninadolescentfemalelongdistancerunners
AT tkluyts bonemineraldensityandmenstrualfunctioninadolescentfemalelongdistancerunners