Olympic Weightlifting Training Status, Bone Health, and Hormonal Profiles in Pubertal Male Weightlifters.

Abstract

Background: Adolescence is a critical period for bone mass accrual, and mechanical loading through sport may enhance bone mineral acquisition. Olympic weightlifting provides high-magnitude, weight-bearing stimuli, but evidence in pubertal male athletes remains limited, particularly regarding its associations with endocrine factors related to growth and maturation.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 47 pubertal boys aged 13 to 15 years were classified into three groups: controls (N=16), non-elite weightlifters (N=16), and elite weightlifters (N=15). Biological maturation was assessed using Tanner staging. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Serum growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and testosterone concentrations were determined. Annual training exposure (h/year) was calculated as the total number of hours of structured physical activity performed during the preceding 12 months.

Results: Elite weightlifters were taller and had greater training exposure than non-elite weightlifters and controls. BMD and BMC at whole-body and regional skeletal sites were higher in the trained groups, with the highest values generally observed in elite weightlifters. Elite weightlifters also exhibited higher GH, IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and testosterone concentrations than controls. Total lean mass was strongly correlated with total and regional BMD and BMC, while IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and GH were positively associated with several bone outcomes.

Conclusions: Pubertal male weightlifters, particularly elite athletes, exhibited greater bone mineral status and a more favorable growth-related hormonal profile than age-matched controls. These findings support a positive association between training status, lean mass, and skeletal health during puberty; however, causal inferences are limited by the cross-sectional design.