Impact of 24-week concurrent training on bone parameters and plasma levels of osteoglycin and sclerostin in young, sedentary adults: secondary analyses from the ACTIBATE randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: To examine the effects of 24-week moderate (MOD-EX) and vigorous-intensity concurrent training (VIG-EX) on bone parameters and plasma levels of osteoglycin and sclerostin and their interplay with body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors in young, sedentary men and women. Design: Secondary study from the ACTIBATE randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02365129). Methods: This study was performed at the Sport and Health University Research Institute and the Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital of the University of Granada. Bone parameters were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and osteoglycin and sclerostin levels, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: 145 young sedentary adults were assigned to a control (CON, n = 54), a MOD-EX (n = 48), or a VIG-EX (n = 43). 106 participants were included in the per-protocol analyses (CON, n = 42; MOD-EX, n = 33; and VIG-EX, n = 31). After 24 weeks of concurrent training, we observed no differences in changes in bone parameters (all P time × group ≥ .300), osteoglycin (P time × group = .250), and sclerostin levels (P time × group = .489). Moreover, we found no correlations between osteoglycin and sclerostin levels with body composition (all P ≥ .639) and cardiometabolic risk factors (all P ≥ .119). Conclusion: 24 weeks of concurrent training did not alter bone parameters, and plasma levels of osteoglycin and sclerostin in young, sedentary adults. Moreover, osteoglycin and sclerostin are not related with bone parameters and cardiometabolic risk factors in this population. These findings suggest that longer concurrent training interventions may be needed to enhance bone parameters in young, sedentary adults.