Running and weights may help men avoid brittle bones

MEN should favour weightlifting and running over cycling in order to preserve their bones, scientists have said after a study suggested brittle bone disorders were more common than previously thought.

Scientists measuring the bone density of men and women aged between 35 and 50 found 28 per cent of men showed precursor signs of osteoporosis, compared with 26 per cent of women.

The results are surprising because the debilitating condition, which affects around three million people in the UK, is more commonly associated with women.

The University of Mississippi researchers said many of the men in the study had been keen cyclists, but that this non-weight-bearing form of exercise does nothing to improve bone density.

The 173 participants were scanned at the femoral hip and lumbar spine while being exposed to a light dose of radiation to establish bone mineral density (BMD). BMD peaks at around the age of 30, which means young adults who do not form strong bones are at an increased risk of osteoporosis later in life.

“We typically associate loss of bone mineral density with post-menopausal women, but our findings showed elevated risk in younger men,” said Dr Martha Bass, who led the research.

“Almost all participants who were found to have osteopenia were surprised and I think this is a more prevalent issue than anyone expected.”

Dr Bass said the best way to maintain BMD was through weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, running and jumping, while moderate weightlifting was also beneficial.

Earlier this year British scientists announced they were investigating a new technique intended to cure osteoporosis by prompting stem cells into action by exposing them to low-frequency vibrations, a method called “nanokicking”.