Differences in body composition and risk of lifestyle-related diseases between young and older male rowers and sedentary controls |
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| Authors: | Kiyoshi Sanada Motohiko Miyachi Izumi Tabata Katsuhiko Suzuki Kenta Yamamoto Hiroshi Kawano |
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| Institution: | 1. Institute for Biomedical Engineering ksanada@fc.ritsumei.ac.jp;3. National Institute of Health and Nutrition , Tokyo, Japan;4. Faculty of Sport Sciences , Waseda University , Tokyo;5. Institute for Biomedical Engineering |
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| Abstract: | Abstract The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare body composition and risk factors of lifestyle-related diseases between young and older male rowers and sedentary controls. Healthy males aged 19–73 years participated in the study, and were divided into four groups: 26 young rowers, 24 senior rowers, 23 young sedentary controls, and 22 senior sedentary controls. Total and regional lean soft tissue, fat mass, and bone mineral density were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The HDL-cholesterol of senior rowers (67.4 ± 13.4 mg · dl?1) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of senior sedentary controls (59.2 ± 11.9 mg · dl?1), while HDL-cholesterol was similar in senior rowers and young rowers (66.1 ± 10.8 mg · dl?1). Arm, leg, and trunk lean soft tissue mass were significantly higher in senior rowers (5.6 ± 0.6 kg, 18.2 ± 1.8 kg, and 27.3 ± 3.2 kg respectively) than in senior sedentary controls (5.1 ± 0.4 kg, 16.3 ± 1.4 kg, and 24.6 ± 1.7 kg respectively; P < 0.05). Bone mineral density was also significantly higher in senior rowers than in senior sedentary controls (ribs, lumbar spine, and pelvic segments; P < 0.05). We conclude that age-related increases in the risk of lifestyle-related diseases, such as osteoporosis and sarcopenia, are attenuated in male rowers. These results suggest that regular rowing exercise may have a positive influence in the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases in older Japanese people. |
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| Keywords: | Age body composition fitness lifestyle-related diseases oarsmen |
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