engleski

Bone turnover markers in SCUBA divers

During SCUBA diving there is a great reduction in gravitational forces and the loss of weight-bearing effects on joints that could lead to decrease in bone mineral density (BMD), and increasing the risk of osteoporosis. Some previous studies showed different results on BMD in SCUBA divers. To our knowledge, none of the previously published studies determined bone turnover markers in divers in comparison with controls. Therefore, the aim of this study was to find out whether there are any differences in bone turnover markers between experienced SCUBA divers and controls.In our study we included 10 experienced SCUBA divers with a mean age of 46.2 ± 7.7 years (mean ± SD)and a control group consisting of 10 healthy men with a mean age of 45.8 ± 6.2 years who were matched by age, weight, and height to the divers. We determined several bone turnover markers: bone specific alkaline phosphatase, osteoprotegerin, osteocalcin, beta-cross laps (B-CTx), total procollagen type 1 amino-terminal propeptide (P1NP) and hormones involved in bone metabolism. The BMD of the lumbar spine and hip regions was assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry.In both groups, bone turnover markers and homone levels were within physiological range.There was no statistically significant difference in bone turnover markers between divers and controls, except in B-CTx concentration, a marker of bone resorption which was lower in the divers group(0.24 ± 0.1 vs. 0.33 ± 0.1 µg/L, P<0.05).Lumbar and hip region BMD (T and Z-scores) did not differ significantly between the two groups, although divers consistently displayed higher BMD (T and Z-scores).There were no statistically significant correlations between BMD and bone turnover markers with total diving time(p>0.05 for all analysis). In conclusion, we can state that SCUBA diving does not seem to have negative effect on BMD. Larger scale studies are needed to determine the exact effect of diving on BMD and especially on bone turnover markers.

divers ; bone turnover

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