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Bone formation is suppressed with multi-stressor military training

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 12 August 2014

Abstract

Purpose

To determine the effects of US Army Ranger Training, an 8-week, physically demanding program (energy expenditure of 2,500–4,500 kcal/day) with energy restriction (deficit of 1,000–4,000 kcal/day) and sleep deprivation (<4 h sleep/night) on bone metabolism.

Methods

Blood was collected from 22 men (age 24 ± 4 years) before and after training. Follow-up measurements were made in a subset of 8 subjects between 2 and 6 weeks after training. Serum was analyzed for bone formation biomarkers [bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) and osteocalcin (OCN)], bone resorption biomarkers [C-telopeptide cross-links of type I collagen (CTX) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP5b)], calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and vitamin D (25(OH)D). Data were analyzed using a paired t test to compare baseline to immediate post-training measures. A repeated-measures ANOVA with time as the only factor was used to analyze data on the subset of 8 subjects who completed follow-up data collection.

Results

BAP and OCN significantly decreased by 22.8 ± 15.5 % (pre 41.9 ± 10.1; post 31.7 ± 7.8 ng/ml) and 21.0 ± 23.3 % (pre 15.0 ± 3.5; post 11.3 ± 2.1 ng/ml), respectively, with training, suggesting suppressed bone formation. OCN returned to baseline, while BAP remained suppressed 2–6 weeks post-training. TRAP5b significantly increased by 57.5 ± 51.6 % (pre 3.0 ± 0.9; post 4.6 ± 1.4 ng/ml) from pre- to post-training, suggesting increased bone resorption, and returned to baseline 2–6 weeks post-training. PTH Increased significantly by 37.3 ± 45.2 % with training. No changes in CTX, calcium, or PTH were detected.

Conclusions

These data indicate that multi-stressor military training results in increased bone resorption and suppressed bone formation, with recovery of bone metabolism 2–6 weeks after completion of training.

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Abbreviations

25(OH)D:

25-Hydroxyvitamin D

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

BAP:

Bone alkaline phosphatase

CTX:

C-Telopeptide cross-links of type I collagen

CV:

Coefficient of variation

OCN:

Osteocalcin

P1NP:

Procollagen 1 N-terminal peptide

PTH:

Parathyroid Hormone

TRAP5b:

Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by appointments to the Postgraduate Research Participation Program at the US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education through interagency agreement between the US Department of Energy and US Army Medical Research and Material Command (JMH and JRH).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Military Performance Division, United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, 15 Kansas Street, Building 42, Natick, MA, 01760, USA

    Julie M. Hughes, Paul C. Henning, Dennis E. Scofield, Barry A. Spiering, Jeffery S. Staab, Jay R. Hydren & Ronald W. Matheny Jr.

  2. Madigan Healthcare System, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Tacoma, WA, USA

    Martha A. Smith

  3. Army Institute of Public Health Army Public Health Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, MD, USA

    Bradley C. Nindl

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  1. Julie M. Hughes
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  2. Martha A. Smith
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Correspondence to Julie M. Hughes.

Additional information

Communicated by Olivier Seynnes.

The views, opinions, and/or findings in this report are those of the authors, and should not be construed as an official department of the army position, policy, or decision, unless so designated by other official documentation

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Hughes, J.M., Smith, M.A., Henning, P.C. et al. Bone formation is suppressed with multi-stressor military training. Eur J Appl Physiol 114, 2251–2259 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-2950-6

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