Gender differences in relationships between body composition components, their distribution and bone mineral density: a cross-sectional opposite sex twin study

Background: Beach handball is a recent team sport characterized by defensive and offensive actions on a sand surface. Scientific evidence has shown that body composition is fundamental in sports performance. The main objective of this study was to know the body composition, anthropometric characteristics, and bone mineral density of elite beach handball players. Furthermore, another purpose was to analyze the differences between categories (junior and senior) and playing position. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study of 36 male players (18 juniors and 18 seniors) of the Spanish National Beach Handball Team was conducted. Full profile anthropometry and calcaneal ultrasound measurements were used. Results: Significant differences between categories (p < 0.05) were found in: height, body mass, arm span, BMI, muscle mass, fat mass, bone mass, skinfolds, and body perimeters. The somatotype changes depending on the playing position. Bone mineral density of the players was adequate. No significant differences were found by playing position. Conclusions: Senior players had a better body composition due to the presence of less fat mass than junior players. This study provides reference values of elite junior and senior beach handball players and by playing positions. This data is useful for the identification of talents and players who should be trained to improve their body composition.

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Sex-specific and age-specific characteristics of body composition and its effect on bone mineral density in adults in southern China: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032268 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. e032268

Author(s):

Zeyu Xiao ◽

Zhiqiang Tan ◽

Jingjie Shang ◽

Yong Cheng ◽

Yongjin Tang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Mineral Density ◽

Body Composition ◽

Linear Regression ◽

Bone Mineral ◽

Lean Mass ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Whole Body ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Mineral Density ◽

Cross Sectional

ObjectivesThis study was an attempt to investigate the variation trend of body composition with ageing and explore the association between regional body composition and bone mineral density (BMD).DesignCross-sectional study.Setting and participantsA total of 5749 healthy adults aged 20–95 years was recruited from 2004 to 2017.Primary outcome measuresWhole-body lean mass (LM), fat mass (FM), android FM, gynoid FM, appendicular lean mass (ALM) and BMD in the lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip were obtained by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The android/gynoid fat mass ratio (A/G FMR) based on DXA scan was calculated as an indicator of adipose distribution. Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine the associations between body composition, adipose distribution, and BMD of each skeletal site.ResultsWhole-body FM, percentage of whole-body FM, Android FM and A/G FMR consistently increased with age in both genders, especially in women, and ALM began to decrease in the fifth decade for both men and women. In multivariable linear regression models with age, body mass index, A/G FMR and ALM as predictor variables, ALM was associated with the most BMD variance of all skeletal sites in men (standard β ranged from 0.207 to 0.405, p<0.001), although not the largest but still a positive predictor of BMD in women (standard β ranged from 0.074 to 0.186, p<0.05). A/G FMR was an inverse predictor of BMD at all skeletal sites for women (standard β ranged from −249 to −0.052, p<0.01) but not in men.ConclusionsIn this large cohort of Chinese adults, ALM had a strong positive association with BMD in both genders. A/G FMR as an indicator of central adipose accumulation was inversely associated with BMD in women but not in men.

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Transwomen and bone mineral density: a cross-sectional study in Brazilian population

British Journal of Radiology ◽

10.1259/bjr.20190935 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 93 (1111) ◽

pp. 20190935

Author(s):

Kadija Rahal Chrisostomo ◽

Thelma L. Skare ◽

Henrique Rahal Chrisostomo ◽

Edna J. Litenski Barbosa ◽

Renato Nisihara

Keyword(s):

Bone Mineral Density ◽

Body Composition ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Bone Mass ◽

Body Mass ◽

Bone Mineral ◽

Hormonal Treatment ◽

Z Score ◽

Mineral Density ◽

Cross Sectional

Objectives: Transgender individuals submitted to hormone or surgical treatment may have alterations in their bone metabolism as these elements are important players in bone remodeling. We aimed to study bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition in transwomen undergoing cross-sex hormonal treatment (CSHT) from Brazil for over 3 years, comparing them with female and male controls. Methods: 93 individuals (31 transwomen, 31 females and 31 males paired for age and body mass index) were studied for bone mass, and body composition by densitometry (by DXA). Epidemiological and clinical data were collected through direct questioning. Results: Low bone mass (T score ≤2) was found in 12.9% of transwomen; in 3.2% of females and 3.3% of males. Transwomen individuals had lower spine Z score (0.26 ± 1.42 vs 0.50 ± 1.19) and femur Z score (−0.41 ± 0.95 vs 0.29 ± 1.04) than females. They had lower total femur Z score than males (−0.41 ± 0.95 vs 0.20 ± 0.83). Lean mass values correlated positively with total femur BMD (ρ = 0.40; 95% confidence interval = 0.009–0.68; p = 0.04) and BMD in femoral neck (ρ = 0.48; 95% confidence interval = 0.11–0.74; p = 0.01) but neither the type of therapy received nor the time that they were used, impacted bone mass. Conclusion: Low BMD is found frequently in transwomen and it is correlated with lean body mass. Advances in knowledge: There are few studies of the effects of hormone therapy on the bones and muscles of transwomen. This study demonstrated that significant changes occur, and that the population studied needs greater care in musculoskeletal health.

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