IADMS New York 2002   [back to the Category]

The Effects of Cigarette Smoking and Physical Activity on the Bone Mineral Density of Collegiate Fem   [read the french version]

Author :   Marti Wolfson, BS & Al.

The Effects of Cigarette Smoking and Physical Activity on the Bone Mineral Density of Collegiate Female Dancers


Marti Wolfson, BS; Zachary Aria, BS; Kimberly Sweet, BS; Patricia C. Fehling, PhD
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, New York, USA


Purpose
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of cigarette smoking on the bone mineral density (BMD) of collegiate dancers compared to a group of non-active controls. The subjects for this investigation were 45 college-aged females categorized as dancers (DAS) who smoke (n=10), dancers (DA) who do not smoke (n=12), non-active controls (CONS) who smoke (n=10), and non-active controls (CON) who do not smoke (n=13).

Methods
Prior to testing, the Skidmore Inter-college Review Board of Human Subjects approved this study. Subjects had measurement of anthropometrics (height, weight, circumferences, skin folds), current and past physical activity (by questionnaire), medical history, and smoking history. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (Lunar DXA-IQ, Waltham, MA) was used to determine BMD of the total body, lumbar spine (L2-L4), and proximal femur, and to assess body composition.

Results
The DAS smoked an average of 10.3 ± 5.4 cigarettes per day for an average of 4.3 years (range:1-8 years). The CONS smoked an average of 16.0 ± 5.6 cigarettes per day for an average of 6.2 years (range: 4-9). There was no significant difference among groups in age, height, weight or percent body fat (DXA). Using a one way analysis of variance it is reported that the DA had a significantly (p <.05) greater femoral neck BMD (1.15 ± .10 g/cm2) than the CONS (1.02 ± .12 g/cm2) and CON (1.01 ± .09 g/cm2). The DAS did not have a statistically different BMD than any of the groups for total body and lumbar BMD.

Conclusion
The lack of significant effects of physical activity on the total body and lumbar region suggests that the physical activity of the dancers induced a site-specific response in the femoral neck, a weight-bearing area. In addition, these data suggest that smoking may have blunted the osteogenic effects of physical activity in the group of DAS.