Author(s)

Hiroki Funasaki^1*, Mitsuru Saito², Mayumi Kuno-Mizumura³, Hiroteru Hayashi¹, Keishi Marumo²

¹Department of Sports and Wellness Clinic, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
²Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
³Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo, Japan.

Hypotheses:Values of serum markers related to bone quality are abnormal in young female ballet dancers. Methods: In 13 elite Japanese female ballet dancers (average age, 22 years), markers related to bone quality were investigated. These included: serum homocystein (HC), a marker of increased oxidative stress; pentosidine (Pent), a marker of glycation- or oxidation-induced non-enzymatic cross-links; markers of bone metabolism (bone alkaline phosphatase, BAP; tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b, TRAP5b) and bone mineral density (BMD). It was determined whether there is a relationship between bone quality markers’ levels are related to amenorrhea and/or fatigue fractures. Results: Two dancers had fatigue fractures and 3 had a history of secondary amenorrhea. The average BMD was 1.305 ± 0.12 (g/cm²), in all these cases the Z-score was higher than -1.0. Although the serum levels of BAP, TRAP5b, and HC were normal in all examined dancers, in 2 out of 3 dancers with a history of secondary amenorrhea, pentosidine serum levels were increased. No relationship between bone quality markers’ levels and fatigue fractures was found. Conclusion: Latent deterioration of bone quality may occur in female athletes with secondary amenorrhea and otherwise normal BMD and calcium metabolism markers.

Bone Quality, Bone Mineral Density, Female Athletes, Ballet Dancer

Funasaki, H. , Saito, M. , Kuno-Mizumura, M. , Hayashi, H. and Marumo, K. (2017) Bone Quality in Female Ballet Dancers: A Possible Determinant of Bone Health. Open Journal of Orthopedics, 7, 284-293. doi: 10.4236/ojo.2017.79028.