Comparison of bone mineral density and bone mineral content in university athletes from different sports.

INTRODUCTION Bone parameters are influenced by multiple factors. However, when comparing sports, few studies have considered the simultaneous interference of these factors in bone parameters. OBJECTIVE To compare bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) between university athletes from different sports, according to sex. APPROACH Cross-sectional study with 71 male (M) and female (F) university athletes practicing indoor soccer (M = 14, F = 20), judo (M = 8, F = 6) and volleyball (M = 11, F = 12) aged 22.37 (± 3.71) years. Dependent variables were BMD and BMC corrected by height measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The sport practiced (indoor soccer, judo and volleyball) was the independent variable and covariates were fat mass, lean tissue mass, training volume, practice time and gynecological aspects (in females athletes) such as regular menstruation and use of oral contraceptives. Analysis of covariance was used, with p <0.05. RESULTS Female volleyball players [mean: 1.23; Standard Error (SE): 0.03] presented higher lumbar BMD values compared to judo athletes (mean: 1.08; SE: 0.05). In addition, lumbar BMC values of indoor soccer athletes (mean: 0.41; SE: 0.01) was higher compared to judo athletes (mean: 0.34; SE: 0.02). In males, no differences were observed among sports. CONCLUSIONS Sports performance technicians and professionals will be able to broaden the understanding of variations in BMD and BMC lumbar between judo, indoor soccer and volleyball athletes, which allows monitoring these parameters in the sports context and in the athlete's health.