Total and regional bone mineral content in Spanish professional ballet dancers

Total body bone mineral content (TBBMC) and regional bone mineral content (BMC) was measured in the members of the Spanish National Dance Company (15 female, mean age 25.1 +/- 3.8 years, and 15 male, mean age 28.2 +/- 2.1 years) and in 30 controls (15 women, mean age 26.1 +/- 1.8 years, and 15 men, mean age 28.0 +/- 1.5 years). Ca, P, and Mg intake were greater in the group of ballet dancers than in controls analysis of variance (ANOVA, all P < 0.0001). BMC was similar in the group of ballet dancers and controls except in the trunk without pelvis (P < 0.001). Both male and female dancers weighed less than controls (P < 0.05). The BMC of the male dancers was less than that of male controls only in the trunk (P < 0.05) and in the trunk without pelvis (P < 0.005); BMC was lower in female dancers than in female controls only in the arms and in the trunk without pelvis (P < 0.05 and P < 0.005, respectively). TBBMC, adjusted for weight and age, was correlated partially with caloric intake (kcal/day) and with Ca, P, Mg, and Zn intake (g/day), and yielded significant differences between the dancers and controls only in P intake (P < 0.01), and between male dancers and male controls only in caloric intake and in Ca, P, and Zn intake (all P < 0.01, except for Ca, P < 0.05). The lower trunk bone mass observed in the female dancers is a risk factor for eventual osteoporosis.