Purpose: This study examined a widespread but largely untested hypothesis that in young adult women, increased micronutrient intake can enhance exercise‐induced changes in bone metabolism.
Design: Twenty‐four female students, ages 18–24, at The Ohio State University, who had not recently done resistance exercise training, nor had habits necessarily conducive to optimal calcium or vitamin D status, did 8 weeks of resistance exercise training, and were supplemented with either placebo or a mixture of bone‐relevant micronutrients (including calcium and vitamin D).
Materials and methods: Plasma and urine makers for bone metabolism were assessed before and after the 8‐week intervention.
Results: Subjects on the micronutrient supplementation and the exercise regimen (N = 12), but not placebo plus exercise (N = 12), showed statistically significant encouraging changes in urinary DPD and α‐helical peptide (markers of bone degradation), plasma bone specific alkaline phosphatase (a marker of bone synthesis), plasma 25‐OH‐vitamin D (an active vitamin D hormone that affects bone metabolism), and plasma parathyroid hormone (a bone metabolic hormone with levels influenced by calcium and vitamin D).
Conclusion: These results support the concept that in young adult women, exercise plus increased intake of micronutrients can improve bone health, which could lower the risk of osteoporosis later in life.
