Effects of 18 months of multicomponent exercise training on body composition, bone parameters, and muscle strength in healthy young men with normal-to-high baseline bone mineral density
- 1Present Address: The Research Center of Military Exercise Science, the Army Engineering University of PLA, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211101 China
- 2Department of Health Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002 China
- 3Department of Geriatric Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029 China
Abstract
Aims: This single-arm prospective longitudinal study examined the effects of 18 months of supervised multicomponent exercise training on body composition, bone mineral density (BMD), and isokinetic muscle strength in healthy young men with normal-to-high baseline bone mineral density (mean Z-score = –0.05 ± 0.46).
Methods: Sixty young men (mean age 18.68 ± 0.85 years) completed the 18-month program, which included aerobic, resistance, flexibility, and impact/power training sessions. Whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to assess body composition and bone parameters before and after the intervention. Isokinetic muscle strength was measured in a subgroup of 15 participants using a Biodex System 4 Pro dynamometer at 60°/s.
Results: Training led to significant increases in BMD at multiple sites, including the upper limbs, pelvis, thoracic spine, and whole body (all p < 0.01 or p < 0.001). Regional lean mass and isokinetic muscle strength also improved, particularly at the shoulder, wrist, and knee joints. However, these positive musculoskeletal changes were accompanied by significant increases in whole-body fat mass, fat percentage, and central adiposity indices (including fat mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and trunk-to-limb fat ratio, all p < 0.05). Muscle-to-bone ratios decreased across several regions.
Conclusions: In healthy young men with normal-to-high baseline BMD, 18 months of multicomponent exercise training was associated with improvements in bone mineral density and muscle strength. However, these benefits were accompanied by increases in fat mass and central adiposity. Nutritional monitoring may be important to optimize the overall body composition response to such training. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these observations.
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BibTeX
@article{wei2026effects,
title = {{Effects of 18 months of multicomponent exercise training on body composition, bone parameters, and muscle strength in healthy young men with normal-to-high baseline bone mineral density}},
author = {Jian Xi Wei and Yu Zhu Feng and Yan Feng and Hong Peng Yu and Man Chao Han and Fan Hua Meng and Xin Zhang and Yong Zhong and Sen Wang and Ji Zheng Ma},
journal = {BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12891-026-10218-z},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-026-10218-z},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of 18 months of multicomponent exercise training on body composition, bone parameters, and muscle strength in healthy young men with normal-to-high baseline bone mineral density
AU - Jian Xi Wei
AU - Yu Zhu Feng
AU - Yan Feng
AU - Hong Peng Yu
AU - Man Chao Han
AU - Fan Hua Meng
AU - Xin Zhang
AU - Yong Zhong
AU - Sen Wang
AU - Ji Zheng Ma
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/08
JO - BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
DO - 10.1186/s12891-026-10218-z
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-026-10218-z
AB - Aims: This single-arm prospective longitudinal study examined the effects of 18 months of supervised multicomponent exercise training on body composition, bone mineral density (BMD), and isokinetic muscle strength in healthy young men with normal-to-high baseline bone mineral density (mean Z-score = –0.05 ± 0.46). Methods: Sixty young men (mean age 18.68 ± 0.85 years) completed the 18-month program, which included aerobic, resistance, flexibility, and impact/power training sessions. Whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to assess body composition and bone parameters before and after the intervention. Isokinetic muscle strength was measured in a subgroup of 15 participants using a Biodex System 4 Pro dynamometer at 60°/s. Results: Training led to significant increases in BMD at multiple sites, including the upper limbs, pelvis, thoracic spine, and whole body (all p < 0.01 or p < 0.001). Regional lean mass and isokinetic muscle strength also improved, particularly at the shoulder, wrist, and knee joints. However, these positive musculoskeletal changes were accompanied by significant increases in whole-body fat mass, fat percentage, and central adiposity indices (including fat mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and trunk-to-limb fat ratio, all p < 0.05). Muscle-to-bone ratios decreased across several regions. Conclusions: In healthy young men with normal-to-high baseline BMD, 18 months of multicomponent exercise training was associated with improvements in bone mineral density and muscle strength. However, these benefits were accompanied by increases in fat mass and central adiposity. Nutritional monitoring may be important to optimize the overall body composition response to such training. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these observations.
SN - 1471-2474
ER -