Impact of Resistance Training on Bone During 40% Caloric Restriction in Growing Female Rats

Authors

Ken D. Sumida, Chapman UniversityFollow
Daniel L. Smithers, Chapman University
Aaron Gerston, Chapman University
Kim A. Lagerborg, Chapman University
S. Victoria Jaque, California State University, Northridge
Fred Caporaso, Chapman UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-10-2025

Abstract

There is a growing trend in the use of severe caloric restrictive diets among normal weight young females that can jeopardize bone health. Using an animal model, the purpose of this study was to determine whether resistance training (RT) could maintain bone health during a 6-week severe caloric restrictive (CR) diet in growing female rats. Twenty-four female rats (~ 8 weeks old) were randomly divided into the following groups: sedentary rats fed a normal diet (N = 8), sedentary rats fed a 40% CR diet (D = 8), and an RT group fed a 40% CR diet (DT = 8). The DT group climbed a vertical ladder four consecutive times (per exercise session) with weights appended to their tail 3 days/week for a total of 6 weeks. Tibial bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans and bone mechanical properties were measured. After 6 weeks, the body mass (Mean ± SD) of CR-fed groups (D & DT = 202.8 ± 10.7 g) was significantly lower than N (275.5 ± 25.3 g). Tibial BMD (g/cm²) for D (0.196 ± 0.012) was significantly lower vs. N (0.213 ± 0.013), resulting in a 7.9% decline. The tibial BMD for DT (0.206 ± 0.009) resulted in a 3.3% decline compared to N that was not significantly different. Bone mechanical properties were significantly greater for DT compared to D, but not significantly different compared to N. Resistance training has the potential to maintain bone health during severe caloric restriction in growing female rats.

Comments

This article was originally published in Calcified Tissue International, volume 116, in 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-025-01348-y

Recommended Citation

Sumida, K.D., Smithers, D.L., Gerston, A. et al. Impact of Resistance Training on Bone During 40% Caloric Restriction in Growing Female Rats. Calcif Tissue Int 116, 38 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-025-01348-y

Peer Reviewed

1

Copyright

The authors

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.