Is Osteopenia a Health Risk in Professional Cyclists?

Bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry Lunar DPX-NT, SV 4.0 in 23 professional male cyclists (age: 28.5 ± 3.9 yr; height: 179 ± 6.8 cm; weight: 70.9 ± 7.1 kg−1). Eight subjects had normal L1-L4 T-score values (−0.19 ± 0.62) and 15 had low values (−1.57 ± 0.45). Correlations between: L1-L4 T-scores and body weight, fat mass (FM) and % FM (r = 0.40, p < 0.05; r = 0.65, p < 0.001; r = 0.59, p < 0.01). Regression analysis: L1-L4 T-score and FM (R2 = 0.42; p < 0.001); total BMC and fat-free mass (FFM) (R2 = 0.60; p < 0.0001); and total BMD and BMI (R2 = 0.25; p < 0.05). Climbers had lower arms BMD (0.85 ± 0.04; p < 0.05). Flat-terrain cyclist had lower right leg FFM (9.7 ± 0.8 kg; p < 0.05). Time trialists had higher body weight (76.7 ± 4.4 kg; p < 0.05), total FFM (68.3 ± 4.7 kg), total BMC (3.1 ± 0.3; p < 0.03), right and left leg BMC (0.60 ± 0.1; 0.60 ± 0.1; p < 0.05), and spinal BMD (1.09 ± 0.1; p < 0.05). In conclusion, two-thirds of professional cyclists had abnormally low BMD values.