ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Sports participation plays an important role in bone gain during childhood and adolescence. The aim here was to identify sex-related determinants of bone mineral density (BMD) differences between male and female adolescents, with emphasis on the role of sports participation. DESIGN AND SETTING: Longitudinal study conducted in a public university in Presidente Prudente, Brazil. METHODS: The sample comprised 48 adolescents aged 11-17 years, of both sexes, who were matched according to sex, age and sports participation. BMD was the main outcome, while muscle mass, sports participation, calendar age and biological maturation were treated as covariates. Participants were followed up after nine months. RESULTS: At baseline, BMD values were similar between the sexes. However, adjustment for covariates showed that BMD was higher among girls at all sites, with a contribution from lean soft tissue (LST) in the model (partial eta-squared, ES-r = 0.619 in upper limbs; 0.643 in lower limbs; 0.699 in spine; and 0.599 in whole body). Sports participation only explained the upper-limb variance (ES-r = 0.99). At the follow-up, the results resembled the baseline except in the lower limbs (P = 0.109), in which BMD was similar between the groups. BMD gain over time was similar between girls and boys in all segments, and baseline LST affected upper-limb and whole-body BMD accrual (ES-r = 0.396 and 0.107, respectively). CONCLUSION: Whole-body and specific-site BMD differed between baseline and follow-up. However,BMD accrual was similar between the sexes, given that muscle mass constituted the most relevant determinant of the difference between them.

RESUMO CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: O pico de velocidade de crescimento (PVC) constitui importante evento maturacional durante a adolescência, afetando o tamanho do esqueleto. O objetivo do estudo foi comparar variáveis ósseas em adolescentes praticantes de diferentes modalidades esportivas, bem como identificar se diferenças nas variáveis ósseas atribuídas à prática esportiva são dependentes do estado da maturação somática. DESENHO E LOCAL: Estudo transversal, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). MÉTODOS: O estudo foi constituído por 93 adolescentes (12 a 16,5 anos), divididos em três grupos: grupo sem envolvimento esportivo (n = 42), futebol/basquete (n = 26) e natação (n = 25). A densidade e conteúdo mineral ósseo foram mensurados utilizando absortiometria de raio-x de dupla energia e a maturação somática foi estimada através do uso do PVC. Informações sobre volume de treinamento foram fornecidas pelos treinadores. RESULTADOS: Adolescentes com idade tardia no PVC apresentaram maiores valores de densidade mineral óssea em membros superiores (P = 0,018). Após ajustes por variáveis de confusão, como a maturação somática, os nadadores apresentaram menores valores de densidade mineral óssea em membros inferiores, coluna e corpo inteiro. Apenas a densidade mineral óssea de membros superiores foi similar entre os grupos. Existiu relação negativa entre conteúdo mineral ósseo de corpo inteiro e tempo de treino semanal (β: -1563.967; 95% intervalo de confiança, IC: -2916.484 a -211.450). CONCLUSÃO: As diferenças em variáveis ósseas atribuídas à prática esportiva ocorrem independentemente da maturação, enquanto elevada quantidade de treinamento em situações de hipogravidade parece estar relacionada com menor massa óssea em nadadores.

ABSTRACT CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Peak height velocity (PHV) is an important maturational event during adolescence that affects skeleton size. The objective here was to compare bone variables in adolescents who practiced different types of sports, and to identify whether differences in bone variables attributed to sports practice were dependent on somatic maturation status. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study, São Paulo State University (UNESP). METHODS: The study was composed of 93 adolescents (12 to 16.5 years old), divided into three groups: no-sport group (n = 42), soccer/basketball group (n = 26) and swimming group (n = 25). Bone mineral density and content were measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and somatic maturation was estimated through using peak height velocity. Data on training load were provided by the coaches. RESULTS: Adolescents whose PHV occurred at an older age presented higher bone mineral density in their upper limbs (P = 0.018). After adjustments for confounders, such as somatic maturation, the swimmers presented lower values for bone mineral density in their lower limbs, spine and whole body. Only the bone mineral density in the upper limbs was similar between the groups. There was a negative relationship between whole-body bone mineral content and the weekly training hours (β: -1563.967; 95% confidence interval, CI: -2916.484 to -211.450). CONCLUSION: The differences in bone variables attributed to sport practice occurred independently of maturation, while high training load in situations of hypogravity seemed to be related to lower bone mass in swimmers.