Influence of lactose intolerance and physical activity level on bone mineral density in young women

The aim of this study was to verify the effect of physical activity level on bone mineral density (BMD) in pre-menopausal women with lactose intolerance. Sixty women was engaged in this study (age: 31.9±6.9 years) and were initially separated into two groups: 30 women with lactose intolerance (LI) and 30 controls (C). The groups were further subdivided into less and more active using the median of weekly total energy expenditure, estimated by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-long version). The LI diagnosis was confirmed by lactose intolerance test (oral lactose overload with monitoring of blood glucose and associated clinical manifestations). BMD was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). As expected, physical activity score was higher in both groups for women classified as more active (p>0.05). The BMD at hip and pelvis was lower in LI than in C group (p<0.05). In addition, there was a tendency for a lower BMD in L2, L4, femoral neck and total hip for LI compared to C group (p<0.10). However, there was no main effect of physical activity level or interaction for the BMD at any other bone sites (p<0.10). The LI group had lower (p<0.05) absolute free-fat mass, independently of physical activity level. Therefore, the results of the present study suggest that LI reduces BMD in pre-menopausal women and this reduction is independent of physical activity level

<b>The relationship between multiple joint flexibility and functional performance in independent and physically active elderly women</b>

Multi-joint flexibility assessment seems to be more appropriate for analyzing the association between fl exibility and functional fitness, but there is a lack of studies to confi rm this possibility in elderly people. The present study investigated the relationship between a multiple joint fl exibility assessment and the functional performance of 30 independent and physically active elderly women (age=68±1yr). Flexibility was assessed using the Chair Sit-and-Reach Test (CSRT). Functional performance was tested by a combination of three tasks: a) Step Length (SL); b) Time to Put on Sneakers (TPS); c) Climbing Stairs (CS). The association between fl exibility and functional performance was tested by both simple and multiple correlation techniques. Pearson’s correlation was signifi cant for TPS (r = -.37; p ABSTRACT</b Medidas multiarticulares da mobilidade podem ser mais adequadas para estabelecer relações entre fl exibilidade e funcionalidade, mas faltam estudos que confi rmem essa relação em idosos. O presente estudo verifi cou a relação entre a flexibilidade multiarticular e o desempenho funcional de 30 idosas (idade = 68±1 anos), funcionalmente independentes e fisicamente ativas. Para a medida da flexibilidade utilizou-se o teste de sentar-e-alcançar na cadeira (Chair Sit-and-Reach Test – CSRT). O desempenho funcional (DF) foi aferido pela amplitude do passo (AMP), o tempo gasto para calçar e amarrar cadarços de sapatos esportivos (tênis) (CAT) e tempo para subir um lance de degraus (SD). Para testar a relação entre as medidas de fl exibilidade e os testes de DF utilizaram-se técnicas de correlação simples e múltipla. A correlação simples revelou-se signifi cativa entre o CSRT e o CAT (r = -0,37; p<0,05), mas não para AMP e SD. A correlação múltipla não identificou associação entre o conjunto de testes de DF e o CSRT (R = 0,37; p = 0,26), mas a melhor associação parcial, ainda que não significativa, foi novamente para o CAT (ß = -0,38; p = 0,05). Os resultados sugerem que o CSRT não é um bom preditor do DF em mulheres idosas independentes e ativas, apesar de poder associar-se relativamente bem com tarefas específi cas, que dependam estreitamente da flexibilidade de quadril e tronco