Physical Activity, Physical Fitness, Body Composition, and Nutrition Are Associated with Bone Status in University Students

Abstract

Understanding the modifiable factors that improve and maximize peak bone mass at an early age is necessary to design more effective intervention programs to prevent osteoporosis. To identify these modifiable factors, we analyzed the relationship of physical activity (PA), physical fitness, body composition, and dietary intake with bone stiffness index (SI), measured by quantitative ultrasonometry in young university students (18–21 years). Moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) was the strongest predictor of SI (β = 0.184; p = 0.035). SI was most closely related with very vigorous PA in males (β = 0.288; p = 0.040) and with the number of steps/day in females (β = 0.319; p = 0.002). An association between thigh muscle and SI was consistent in both sexes (β = 0.328; p < 0.001). Additionally, extension maximal force was a bone SI predictor factor in females (β = 0.263; p = 0.016) independent of thigh muscle perimeter. Calcium intake was the only nutrition parameter that had a positive relationship with SI (R = 0.217; p = 0.022). However, it was not included as a predictor for SI in our regression models. This study identifies predictors of bone status in each sex and indicates that muscle and bone interrelate with PA and fitness in young adults.

Impact of COVID-19 Confinement on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour in Spanish University Students: Role of Gender

“…University life usually coincides with the transition between adolescence and adulthood, which is crucial in establishing habits that will be maintained throughout life [ 13 ]. Students who are more physically active and with better physical fitness exhibit better health-related quality of life [ 14 ], health parameters [ 14 , 15 ] and academic performance [ 16 ]. In addition, being physically unfit at a young age could also result in a greater risk of disability thirty years later [ 17 ].…”

A Review of Knowledge, Belief and Practice Regarding Osteoporosis among Adolescents and Young Adults

“…Most studies identified a small but significant positive relationship between calcium intake and BMD or QUS indices [24,46,47,48]. One study found that subjects taking cheese regularly had a significantly higher BMD compared with non-takers [26], highlighting the importance of dairy product besides milk as a source of calcium to maintain bone health.…”

“…The studies were performed in various countries and regions. The majority of the studies are from Saudi Arabia [ 15 , 17 , 18 , 19 ], Sri Lanka [ 20 ], Canada [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ], Thailand [ 25 , 26 ] and South Korea [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ], Jordan [ 31 , 32 ], Malaysia [ 33 , 34 ], China [ 35 , 36 ] and the rest are from United States [ 35 ], Nigeria [ 4 ], Taiwan [ 37 ], Syria [ 38 ], India [ 39 ], Poland [ 40 ], Denmark [ 41 ], U.K. [ 42 ], Iran [ 43 ], Pakistan [ 44 ], Columbia [ 45 ], the Basque region (Spain) [ 46 ], Japan [ 47 ] and Australia [ 48 ]. Most of the studies included in this review used either self-designed or validated questionnaire to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice among subjects regarding bone health/osteoporosis.…”

Bone Health and Its Relationship with Impact Loading and the Continuity of Physical Activity throughout School Periods

“…Bone mineral content and structure, besides being affected by genetics, hormones, and nutrition, are influenced by physical activity (PA) [6,7]. Impact loading, which is inherent in many sports, plays an important role in skeletal growth and shaping [8].…”