Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34510274›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of applied physiology2021

Bone mineral density in high-level endurance runners: part A-site-specific characteristics.

A J Herbert, A G Williams, S J Lockey, R M Erskine, C Sale, P J Hennis, S H Day, G K Stebbings

Erratum issuedOpen access · hybridAbstract readComparative Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of applied physiology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.4field-weighted citation impact, top 21% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 19 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Factors associated with bone health in long distance runners: a cross-sectional study.Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA · 2025
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. The bone mineral density and isokinetic knee strength in amputee soccer players.Revista da Associacao Medica Brasileira (1992) · 2023
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 6 institutions in 1 country.

A J HerbertSchool of Health Sciences, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK. adam.herbert@bcu.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8964-0087
A G WilliamsSports Genomics Laboratory, Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
S J LockeyFaculty of Health, Education, Medicine and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, UK.
R M ErskineSchool of Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
C SaleMusculoskeletal Physiology Research Group, Sport, Health and Performance Enhancement Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.
P J HennisMusculoskeletal Physiology Research Group, Sport, Health and Performance Enhancement Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.
S H DaySchool of Medicine and Clinical Practice, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK.
G K StebbingsSports Genomics Laboratory, Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
Manchester Metropolitan University · GBNottingham Trent University · GBAnglia Ruskin University · GBBirmingham City University · GBUniversity College London · GBUniversity of Wolverhampton · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposePhysical activity, particularly mechanical loading that results in high-peak force and is multi-directional in nature, increases bone mineral density (BMD). In athletes such as endurance runners, this association is more complex due to other factors such as low energy availability and menstrual dysfunction. Moreover, many studies of athletes have used small sample sizes and/or athletes of varying abilities, making it difficult to compare BMD phenotypes between studies.

methodThe primary aim of this study was to compare dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) derived bone phenotypes of high-level endurance runners (58 women and 45 men) to non-athletes (60 women and 52 men). Our secondary aim was to examine the influence of menstrual irregularities and sporting activity completed during childhood on these bone phenotypes.

resultsFemale runners had higher leg (4%) but not total body or lumbar spine BMD than female non-athletes. Male runners had lower lumbar spine (9%) but similar total and leg BMD compared to male non-athletes, suggesting that high levels of site-specific mechanical loading was advantageous for BMD in females only and a potential presence of reduced energy availability in males. Menstrual status in females and the number of sports completed in childhood in males and females had no influence on bone phenotypes within the runners.

conclusionGiven the large variability in BMD in runners and non-athletes, other factors such as variation in genetic make-up alongside mechanical loading probably influence BMD across the adult lifespan.

Indexed as

Bone DensityAbsorptiometry, PhotonAdultFemaleHumansMaleMenstruationPhenotypePhysical EnduranceRunningSex FactorsBone mineral densityEliteMarathonMechanical loadingMenstruation

Identifiers

PMID34510274
PMCPMC8571133
OpenAlexW3200526577

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.