COMBINED INFLUENCE OF SPORTS PARTICIPATION WITH AND WITHOUT MECHANICAL IMPACT AND CALCIUM INTAKE ON BONE DENSITY, GEOMETRY, AND MICROARCHITECTURE OUTCOMES IN ADOLESCENTS: ABCD - GROWTH STUDY

• Grant number: 25/13965-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Ribeiro Agostinete
• Grantee: Antonio Vinícius Ribeiro de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Growth, during childhood and adolescence, constitutes an important period for bone tissue development until it reaches its mature state. Sports practice proves to be an important enhancer of this tissue development, primarily because it represents one of the most common forms of physical activity during leisure time in pediatric populations. In addition, the literature also highlights the relevance of adequate calcium intake in the bone formation process. However, considering that sports modalities have specific characteristics, including differences in mechanical impact patterns and muscle contractions, their effects on bone tissue become distinct. Similarly, the combined influence of practicing impact and non-impact sports with varying levels of calcium intake has not yet been explored in the literature. Finally, most studies on this topic only analyze variables related to bone mass quantity, overlooking the relevance of variables associated with tissue quality (geometry and microarchitecture). Objectives: To analyze the combined influence of organized sports practice (impact and non-impact) and calcium intake on various bone health outcomes in adolescents. Secondarily, to perform the same comparisons considering subdivisions among impact sports: high impact, odd/low impact, and non-impact. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, part of the study entitled ABCD (Analysis of Behaviors of Children During Growth) - Growth Study. The sample consists of adolescents aged 11 to 17 years, of both sexes, who do or do not participate in organized and supervised sports modalities. Calcium intake will be assessed using a 24-hour dietary recall, applied for at least two days, while bone outcomes, such as mineral density, geometry, and bone microarchitecture, will be estimated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Additionally, the following confounding variables will be considered: sex, age, biological maturation, and lean soft tissue. All analyses will be conducted considering a p-value of 0.05. Expected Results: It is expected to understand the combined influence of impact/non-impact sports practice and low/high calcium intake on outcomes related to both bone quantity and quality. Consequently, the potential positive influence of impact sports on bone tissue will also be analysed, even with lower calcium intake.