Differences in body composition and risk of lifestyle-related diseases between young and older male rowers and sedentary controls

Abstract

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare body composition and risk factors of lifestyle-related diseases between young and older male rowers and sedentary controls. Healthy males aged 19-73 years participated in the study, and were divided into four groups: 26 young rowers, 24 senior rowers, 23 young sedentary controls, and 22 senior sedentary controls. Total and regional lean soft tissue, fat mass, and bone mineral density were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The HDL-cholesterol of senior rowers (67.4 +/- 13.4 mg . dl(-1)) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of senior sedentary controls (59.2 +/- 11.9 mg . dl(-1)), while HDL-cholesterol was similar in senior rowers and young rowers (66.1 +/- 10.8 mg . dl(-1)). Arm, leg, and trunk lean soft tissue mass were significantly higher in senior rowers (5.6 +/- 0.6 kg, 18.2 +/- 1.8 kg, and 27.3 +/- 3.2 kg respectively) than in senior sedentary controls (5.1 +/- 0.4 kg, 16.3 +/- 1.4 kg, and 24.6 +/- 1.7 kg respectively; P < 0.05). Bone mineral density was also significantly higher in senior rowers than in senior sedentary controls (ribs, lumbar spine, and pelvic segments; P < 0.05). We conclude that age-related increases in the risk of lifestyle-related diseases, such as osteoporosis and sarcopenia, are attenuated in male rowers. These results suggest that regular rowing exercise may have a positive influence in the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases in older Japanese people.

Bone mass and bone metabolic indices in male master rowers

“…Our results are in line with those reported by Sanada et al [15] who demonstrated significantly higher BMD values in the ribs and lumbar spines of young and old rowers than in their control group. Some investigators have shown that athletes, after many years of training or after the end of their sports career, have higher BMDs and greater bone strength at the sites exposed to the greatest load as compared with their non-active controls [4,5,19,20].…”

“…We found only one study that investigated the effects of training on the bone tissue of master rowers [15]. We assume that rowing training may reduce lifestyle-related changes in body composition, bone mass, and carbohydrate metabolism.…”

Risk factors for metabolic bone disease in Crohnʼs disease patients

“…Previous studies identified a variety of factors that could increase the susceptibility for bone loss in this population, including inadequate diet and nutrition, long-term corticosteroid treatment, chronic inflammation per se, and genetic factors as well. 2,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14]25,26 In the present study we observed that, besides age, which applies to the general population, small bowel involvement, previous surgical resections, either colonic or involving the small bowel, duration of disease for more than 15 years, and a low intake of vitamin K were all positively associated with the presence of osteoporosis. The association with previous surgical resections was particularly striking.…”

Elderly oarsmen have larger trunk and thigh muscles and greater strength than age-matched untrained men

“…A recent study indicated that trunk lean soft tissue mass measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was significantly greater in senior rowers than in senior controls (Sanada et al 2009), but it was unclear which muscles in the trunk were larger in the rowers. We expected to find differences between CON and ROW in the trunk region, especially in the back muscles (e.g., erector spinae and quadratus lumborum) considering that the rowing motion involves conscious recruitment of these back muscles.…”