Osteoporosis is often considered a disease that accompanies menopause. But sports health researchers from the University of Mississippi (USA) investigated whether men could also be affected by bone loss. They therefore measured the bone mineral density (BMD) at the level of the lumbar spine and femoral neck of 173 adults aged 35 to 50.
Sport protects women more than men
The results of this study have just been published in the journal of theAmerican osteopathic association. They show that of the 173 participants in this study, 23 men (28%) and 24 women (26%) suffered from osteopenia (the stage which precedes osteoporosis) at the femoral neck. 5 men (6%) and 2 women (2%) already suffered from osteoporosis in the lumbar spine.
Surprising fact: while sport is considered a preventive factor important in women, it does not seem to protect men from osteopenia. In this study, men who exercised more than 20 times a week suffered more from osteopenia than the others. Probably because the other risk factors (taking antacid medication, alcohol, tobacco, etc.) were not taken into account.
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