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Jogging fights ageing

PULLING on the running shoes and going for a regular jog will bolster your backbone, Deakin academics have discovered.

Findings from the university’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition ( IPAN) are the first to show that regular exercise can slow or stop spinal bone marrow from turning into fatty tissue as we age.

IPAN lead researcher Daniel Belavy said running, rather than cycling, was the most effective way to keep bone marrow young.

“In childhood and adolescence, we predominantly have red blood cell-producing bone marrow but as we age, this converts into a yellow fatty marrow,” Associate Professor Belavy said.

“This has a negative impact on the blood and also the bone metabolism in areas of the body such as the pelvis, vertebrae, thighs and hips. It can then contribute to chronic conditions such as osteoporosis and diabetes.”

The study found that participants who ran more than 20km a week showed benefits, with long-distance runners shown to have bone marrow eight years younger than participants who were sedentary.

Prof Belavy said 9km a week was the optimum figure for keeping bone marrow vital.

More than 100 men and women aged between 25 and 35 took part in the survey and were separated into four groups — long-distance runners, habitual joggers, highvolume cyclists and a nonsporting group.

“The study showed a significant correlation between longdistance running, which loads the spine, and a lower level of bone marrow fat,” Associate Prof Belavy said.

Surprisingly, the cyclists had a similar level of bone marrow fat to the non-sporting group, showing that load-bearing on the spine during exercise was essential for marrow health.