Bone metabolism markers in sportswomen with menstrual cycle dysfunctions

Abstract

It is a well known fact that sportswomen with irregular menstrual cycle are exposed to the risk of diminished bone mineral density, and consequentially osteoporosis may appear. Monitoring of the levels of biochemical markers of bone metabolism enables understanding of the dynamic changes during the bone remodeling process. The objectives of the conducted research were to determine the prevalence of menstrual dysfunctions in a sports-women sample and a control group, and also to determine the levels of bone metabolism markers in groups of women with menstrual dysfunctions. The women (n=117) were separated into two groups, the experimental group (S) (n=84) comprised of three subgroups of sports women (34 women who play ball game sports, 27 athletes and 23 sport dancers) and the control group (C) (n=34). To establish the menstrual profile and dysfunction of the menstrual cycle, we used a very detailed questionnaire. The level of mid-fragment osteocalcin (N-MID osteocalcin) as a marker of bone formation was deter mined, as well as β-Cross Laps (β-CTx-bone resorption marker) via the electro luminescent immunochemistry method on an Elecsys 1010 automated machine. Primary amenorrhea was found in 7 (8.33%) and oligomenorrhea in 11 (13.09%) sportswomen, which was statistically a much higher incidence (p<0.05) than in the control group (0/34). Values of bone metabolism markers showed a statistically significant difference in the level of the bone resorption marker β-CrossLaps between the groups of amenorrheic and oligomenorrheic sportswomen in comparison to the eumenorrheic women, both sportswomen and those in the control group. Accelerated resorption was accompanied with accelerated bone formation. Menstrual dysfunctions were statistically more present in the sports-women group than in the control group and were accompanied with accelerated bone metabolism from the point of view of the increase of bone metabolism markers level.