The purpose of this study was to determine if an eight week exercise program would affect indices of bone integrity in postmenopausal women. Sixteen healthy, Caucasian, postmenopausal women, ages 51-74, participated in this study. All subjects were nonsmokers and had not engaged in regular physical activity for a minimum of three months. Eight subjects were assigned to the experimental group and participated in an eight week, three days per week, supervised exercise program and the remaining eight subjects remained inactive and served as the control group. All subjects maintained a constant self-selected diet which was analyzed for calcium, phosphorus, protein, fiber, and fat. Fitness evaluations based on one mile walk times and exercise heart rates were conducted prior to, and at the conclusion of, the eight week experimental period. Three indices of bone homeostasis, urinary calcium and hydroxyproline, and serum alkaline phosphatase, were used. Serum concentrations of calcium, ionized calcium, phosphorus, and creatinine, and urine concentrations of phosphorus and creatinine were also measured. Results showed the active experimental group had a significant (p $<$.01) improvement in predicted maximal oxygen consumption. The control group had a significant (p $<$.05) reduction in urine calcium and a nonsignificant reduction in urine hydroxyproline. The experimental group had nonsignificant increases in urine calcium and hydroxyproline. No significant changes were found for either group for serum alkaline phosphatase. The control group results (urine calcium decrease from pre to posttesting), when analyzed for other factors, showed a significant (p $<$.05) relationship to subjects taking medication for arthritis. Interference with intestinal calcium absorption from certain medications may have caused these unanticipated results. It was concluded that (1) / changes in calcium absorption need to be carefully monitored, (2) 8 weeks may be insufficient to produce significant changes in indices of bone formation (serum alkaline phosphatase), (3) the experimental group trends may indicate early changes in bone turnover leading to increases in bone formation. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-03, Section: B, page: 0653. / Major Professor: Emily Haymes. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1987.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_76250 |
| Contributors | Daly, Janice Ann., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 124 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
Page generated in 0.002 seconds