RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GHRELIN AND BONE MASS DENSITY IN ATHLETES AND NON-ATHLETES 50-70 YEARS OLD MEN

Ghrelin is appetite hormone that has several functions. In recent years the role of
ghrelin in bone mass density has been noticed by some investigators. According to the importance of
bone mass density in elderly age and importance of physical activity in improving bone mass, this study
aimed to investigate the amount of ghrelin and bone mass density and their relationship in athletes and
non-athletes.
Materials & Methods: Thirty male athletes and thirty non-athletes who were 50-70 years old took part
in this research. Bone mass density of femur and lumbar vertebras were measured by DXA and ghrelin
was analyzed by ELISA method. The data were analyzed through independent t-test and Pearson
correlation.
Results: The result of this study showed that femur and lumbar bone mass density and their T-score
were significantly higher in athlete group (P<0.01). There was no significant relationship between
ghrelin and femur and lumbar bone mass density.
Conclusion: Ghrelin may be associated with bone turnover, but there is no evidence for an association
with BMD in athletes and non-athletes in men 50-70 years old