Bone Turnover Markers and Lean Mass in Pubescent Boys: Comparison Between Elite Soccer Players and Controls

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Ammar Nebigh Sousse University

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Mohamed Elfethi Abed Sfax University

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Rihab Borji Sfax University

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Sonia Sahli Sfax University

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Slaheddine Sellami La Rabta Hospital Tunis

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Zouhair Tabka Sousse University

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Haithem Rebai Sfax University

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The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between bone mass and bone turnover markers with lean mass (LM) in pubescent soccer players. Two groups participated in this study, which included 65 elite young soccer players who trained for 6–8 hours per week and 60 controls. Bone mineral density; bone mineral content in the whole body, lower limbs, lumbar spine, and femoral neck; biochemical markers of osteocalcin; bone-specific alkaline phosphatase; C-telopeptide type I collagen; and total LM were assessed. Young soccer players showed higher bone mineral density and bone mineral content in the whole body and weight-bearing sites (P < .001). Indeed, the total LM correlated with whole-body bone mineral density and bone mineral content (P < .001). There were significant differences within the bone formation markers and osteocalcin (formation)/C-telopeptide type I collagen (resorption) ratio between young soccer players compared with the control group, but no significant difference in C-telopeptide type I collagen was observed between the 2 groups. This study showed a significant positive correlation among bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and total LM (r = .29; r = .31; P < .05) only for the young soccer players. Findings of this study highlight the importance of soccer practice for bone mineral parameters and bone turnover markers during the puberty stage.

Nebigh and Tabka are with the Research Unit: Physiology of Exercise and Pathophysiology of Molecular Integration “Biology Medicine and Health,” 12ES06, Faculty of Medicine Ibn El Jazzar, Sousse University, Sousse, Tunisia. Abed, Borji, Sahli, and Rebai are with the Research Unit: Education, Motricity, Sports and Health, UR15JS01, High Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Sfax University, Sfax, Tunisia. Sellami is with the Dept. of Rheumatology, La Rabta Hospital Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.

Address author correspondence to Ammar Nebigh at ammarnebigh@yahoo.fr.
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