Kl. Bennell et al., EFFECT OF ALTERED REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION AND LOWERED TESTOSTERONE LEVELS ON BONE-DENSITY IN MALE ENDURANCE ATHLETES, British journal of sports medicine, 30(3), 1996, pp. 205-208
The effect of intense physical activity on female reproductive hormone
s is well recognised(1-3) and there is evidence that menstrual disturb
ances associated with hypo-oestrogenism adversely affect bone density
especially at the lumbar spine.(4 5) Physical activity can also have a
range of effects on male reproductive function depending upon the int
ensity and duration of the activity and the fitness of the individual.
(6) In particular, endurance training may be associated with reduction
s in circulating testosterone levels. Since testosterone has important
anabolic roles, alterations in reproductive hormone profiles may have
detrimental skeletal consequences similar to those seen in females wi
th menstrual disturbances. The aim of this brief review is to present
the limited literature on the relation between bone density and testos
terone levels in male endurance athletes.