Long-term aerobic exercise and omega-3 supplementation modulate osteoporosis through inflammatory mechanisms in post-menopausal women: a randomized, repeated measures study.

Abstract

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND:

Evidence indicates that dietary fats and physical activity influence bone health. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of long-term aerobic exercise and omega-3 (N-3) supplementation on serum inflammatory markers, bone mineral density (BMD), and bone biomarkers in post-menopausal women.

METHODS:

Seventy-nine healthy sedentary post-menopausal women aged 58-78 years participated in this study. Subjects were randomized to one of 4 groups: exercise + supplement (E+S, n=21), exercise (E, n=20), supplement (S, n=20), and control (Con, n=18) groups. The subjects in the E+S and E groups performed aerobic exercise training (walking and jogging) up to 65% of HRmax, three times a week for 24 weeks. Subjects in the E+S and S groups consumed 1000 mg/d N-3 for 24 weeks. The lumbar spine (L2-L4) and femoral neck BMD, serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, interleukin (IL) 6, prostaglandin (PG) E2, estrogen, osteocalcin, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25 Vit D), C-telopeptide (CTX), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitonin (CT) were measured at baseline, the end of week 12 and 24.

RESULTS:

Serum estrogen, osteocalcin, 1,25 Vit D, CT, L2-L4 and femoral neck BMD measures increased (P < 0.05) and the serum CTX, PTH, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and PGE2 decreased (P < 0.05) in E + S group after the 24 wk intervention but not in the E or S intervention groups. L2-L4 and femoral neck BMD, estrogen, osteocalcin, and CT were negatively (P < 0.05) correlated with TNF-alpha and PGE2. PTH and CT were correlated positively and negatively with IL-6, respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

The present study demonstrates that long-term aerobic exercise training plus N-3 supplementation have a synergistic effect in attenuating inflammation and augmenting BMD in post-menopausal osteoporosis.