Table 4 Longitudinal studies of resistance training (RT) effects on bone mineral density (BMD¹) and biochemical markers of bone metabolism

Fujimura et al., 1997

Subjects: 15 adult men (8 RT, 7 C), 23–31 y

Eligibility criteria: No RT previous 2 y

Design: Not randomized

Training duration / frequency: 4 months / 4 d·wk^-1 (~45 min·d^-1)

Training intensity: 1 set, 10 reps, 60% 1-RM, & 2 sets, 10 reps, 80% 1-RM, 7–8 exercises

Calcium supplementation: 600 mg·d^-1

Training supervised: Not indicated Results-Strength: * Strength ↑ in RT, but not in C

Results-BMD: Total body, lumbar, femoral, radial BMD changes – NS

Results-Biomarkers: * OC & BAP ↑ at 1, 2, 3, & 4 months in RT, but not in C

    * PICP ↓ at 2 & 4 months in C, but not in RT (not measured at 3 months in C) DPD changes – NS

Gleeson et al., 1990

Subjects: 72 eumenorrheic women (34 RT, 38 C), 23–46 y

Eligibility criteria: No previous, regular RT; oral contraceptive users eligible

Design: Not randomized

Training duration / frequency: 12 months / 3 d·wk^-1 (~30 min·d^-1)

Training intensity: 2 sets, 20 reps, 60% 1-RM, 8 exercises

Calcium supplementation: 500 mg·d^-1

Training supervised: Not indicated

Results-Strength: * Strength ↑ in RT, but not in C

Results-BMD: * Percent lumbar BMD change (0.8% ↑ in RT vs. 0.5% ↓ in C)

Absolute lumbar (DPA) & calcaneal (SPA) BMD changes – NS

    Results-Biomarkers: OC changes – NS

Lohman et al., 1995

Subjects: 56 eumenorrheic women (22 RT, 34 C), 28–39 y

Eligibility criteria: No RT previous 2 y; oral contraceptives users not eligible

Design: Randomized

Training duration / frequency: 18 months / 3 d·wk^-1 (~1 hr·d^-1)

Training intensity: 3 sets, 8–12 reps, 70–80% 1-RM, 12 exercises

Calcium supplementation: 500 mg·d^-1

Training supervised: Yes

Results-Strength: * Strength ↑ in RT, but not in C

Results-BMD: * Lumbar BMD ↑ at 5 (2.0%) & 12 (1.6%) months in RT, but not in C

    * Trochanteric BMD ↑ at 5 (0.8%), 12 (2.4%), & 18 (1.5%) months in RT, but not in C Total body & radial BMD (SPA) – NS

Results-Biomarkers: * OC ↑ in RT at 5, 12, & 18 months, but not in C

Menkes et al., 1993

Subjects: 18 men (11 RT, 7 C), 50–70 y

Eligibility criteria: No RT previous 2 y

Design: Not randomized

Training duration / frequency: 4 months / 3 d·wk^-1

Training intensity: 1 set, 15 reps, 8 upper body exercises, & 2 sets, 15 reps, 4 lower body exercises

Calcium supplementation: No: subjects instructed to follow diet containing 1000 mg·d^-1 calcium

Training supervised: Yes

Results-Strength: * Strength ↑ in RT, but not in C

Results-BMD: * Lumbar (2.0%) & femoral (3.8%) BMD ↑ in RT, but not in C

    Total body BMD changes – NS

Results-Biomarkers: * OC ↑ at 3 & 4 months, & BAP ↑ at 4 months in RT, but not in C

    TRAP changes – NS

Nelson et al., 1994

Subjects: 39 postmenopausal women (20 RT, 19 C), 50–70 y

Eligibility criteria: No current regular exercise; no HRT previous 12 months

Design: Randomized

Training duration / frequency: 12 months / 2 d·wk^-1 (~45 min·d^-1)

Training intensity: 3 sets, 8 reps, 80% 1-RM, 5 exercises

Calcium supplementation: No: subjects consuming < 800 mg·d^-1 counseled to ↑ intake

Training supervised: Yes

Results-Strength: * Strength ↑ in RT, but not in C

Results-BMD: * Lumbar (1.0%) & femoral (0.9%) BMD ↑ in RT, but ↓ in C (lumb. -1.8, fem. -2.5%)

    Total body BMD changes – NS

Results-Biomarkers: * OC ↑ in RT, but ↓ in C

Pruitt et al., 1992

Subjects: 26 postmenopausal women (17 RT, 9 C), RT 53.6 ± 1.0 y, C 55.6 ± 0.9 y

Eligibility criteria: No RT previous 6 months; no previous HRT

Design: Not randomized (early respondents placed in RT group)

Training duration / frequency: 9 months / 3 d·wk^-1 (~40 min·d^-1)

Training intensity: 1 set, 10–15 reps, 11 exercises

Calcium supplementation: Not indicated

Training supervised: Not indicated

Results-Strength: * Strength ↑ in RT, but not in C

Results-BMD: * Lumbar BMD (DPA) ↑ in RT (1.6%), but ↓ in C (-3.6%)

    Femoral (DPA) & forearm (SPA) BMD changes – NS

Results-Biomarkers: * Baseline OC greater in RT than in C

    OC, BAP, & HYP changes – NS

Pruitt et al., 1995

Subjects: 26 postmenopausal women (15 RT², 11 C), 65–79 y

Eligibility criteria: No previous RT; no previous HRT or HRT ≥ 1 y

Design: Randomized

Training duration / frequency: 12 months / 3 d·wk^-1 (~50–55 min·d^-1)

Training intensity: 3 sets, 7–14 reps, 40–80% 1-RM, 10 exercises

Calcium supplementation: 500 mg·d^-1+200 IU vitamin D

Training supervised: Yes

Results-Strength: * Strength ↑ in RT, but not in C

Results-BMD: Lumbar & hip BMD changes – NS

Results-Biomarkers: OC changes – NS

Rockwell et al., 1990

Subjects: 17 eumenorrheic women (10 RT, 7 C), RT 36.2 ± 1.3 y, C 40.4 ± 1.6y

Eligibility criteria: No previous RT; oral contraceptive users not eligible

Design: Not randomized

Training duration / frequency: 9 months / 2 d·wk^-1 (~45 min·d^-1)

Training intensity: 2 sets, 12 reps, 70% 1-RM, 8 exercises

Calcium supplementation: 500 mg·d^-1 +200 IU vitamin D

Training supervised: Not indicated

Results-Strength: * Strength ↑ in RT, but not in C

Results-BMD: * Lumbar BMD ↓ in RT at 4.5 (-2.9%) & 9 months (-4.0%); no change in C

    Femoral BMD changes – NS

Results-Biomarkers: * Baseline OC greater in RT than in C

* OC ↑ in RT & in C at 4.5 & 9 months

Ryan et al., 1994

Subjects: 37 men (21 RT, 16 C), 51–71 y

Eligibility criteria: No RT previous 6 months Design: Not randomized

Training duration / frequency: 4 months / 3 d·wk^-1

Training intensity: 1 set, 15 reps using variable resistance machines, 14 exercises

Calcium supplementation: Not indicated

Training supervised: Not indicated

Results-Strength: * Strength ↑ in RT, but not in C

Results-BMD: * Femoral BMD ↑ in RT (2.8%), but not in C

    Total body & lumbar BMD (DXA) changes – NS

Results-Biomarkers: * TRAP ↑ in RT & in C (no difference between groups)

    Changes in OC & BAP – NS