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Biomedical subjects

A Wittich

Publications and source records attributed to A Wittich.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Body composition of professional football (soccer) players determined by dual X-ray absorptiometry.

A three-compartment body composition analysis of 42 professional football (soccer) players and 33 age- and body mass index-matched control subjects was determined by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The equipment provided a direct measurement of fat, lean, and bone mass. Fat mass was significantly higher in the controls subjects whereas lean mass and bone mass were markedly higher in the players. The percentage of body weight fat varied from 6.1 to 19.5% in the football players and from 9.1 to 29.9% in the control subjects. The respective averages were 12.0 +/- 3.1 and 19.2 +/- 5.6% (p < 0.001). The midfielders had a significantly higher percentage of fat (13.6 +/- 3.3%) than backs or forwards (11.1 +/- 2.8 and 11.0 +/- 2.3%, p < 0.05 and p < 0.06, respectively). In the football players, the correlation between age and fat mass was significant (r = 0.53, p < 0.001), whereas there was no correlation between fat and age in the control subjects (r = 0.13 p > 0.1). This article provides, for the first time, DXA analysis of body composition of football players in relation to their age and function. The results should be of interest to coaches because they will help improve athletes' performance.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2000

Peripheral bone mass is not affected by winter vitamin D deficiency in children and young adults from Ushuaia.

Low vitamin D levels in elderly people are associated with reduced bone mass, secondary hyperparathyroidism, and increased fracture risk. Its effect on the growing skeleton is not well known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible influence of chronic winter vitamin D deficiency and higher winter parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels on bone mass in prepubertal children and young adults. The study was carried out in male and female Caucasian subjects. A total of 163 prepubertal children (X age +/- 1 SD: 8.9 +/- 0.7 years) and 234 young adults (22.9 +/- 3.6 years) who had never received vitamin D supplementation were recruited from two areas in Argentina: (1)Ushuaia (55 degrees South latitude), where the population is known to have low winter 25OHD levels and higher levels of PTH in winter than in summer, and (2)Buenos Aires (34 degrees S), where ultraviolet (UV) radiation and vitamin D nutritional status in the population are adequate all year round. Bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) of the ultradistal and distal radius were measured in the young adults. Only distal radius measurements were taken in the children. Similar results were obtained in age-sex matched groups from both areas. The only results showing significant difference corresponded to comparison among the Ushuaian women: those whose calcium (Ca) intake was below 800 mg/day presented lower BMD and BMC values than those whose Ca intake was above that level (0.469 +/- 0.046 versus 0.498 +/- 0.041 g/cm(2), P < 0.02; 3.131 +/- 0.367 versus 3.339 +/- 0.386 g, P < 0.05, respectively). In conclusion, peripheral BMD and BMC were similar in children and young adults from Ushuaia and Buenos Aires in spite of the previously documented difference between both areas regarding UV radiation and winter vitamin D status. BMD of axial skeletal areas as well the concomitant effect of a low Ca diet and vitamin D deficiency on the growing skeleton should be studied further.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1998

Professional football (soccer) players have a markedly greater skeletal mineral content, density and size than age- and BMI-matched controls.

The total skeletal bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), bone size, and body composition were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in all professional male football players of a 1st division team (n = 24) and age- and BMI-matched (n = 22) controls (less than 3 hours of recreational sport activities per week). Average (+/- 1 SD) age of the athletes was 22.6 +/- 2.5 years. Intensive training is conducted during 48 weeks a year for 20-22 hours/week. The length of the registered playing career before the study was 8.2 +/- 2.7 years. Total skeleton BMC was 18.0% (P < 0.001) greater in the football players. The difference resulted from the sum of 5.2% (P < 0.02) increment of bone size and 12.3% (P < 0.001) increment of BMD. The analysis of skeletal subareas revealed that the difference of the BMC and BMD was greater at the level of the pelvis and legs compared with the arms or trunk. The BMC and BMD of the head was equal for both groups. Also, the bone size of the legs and pelvis was significantly greater for the players compared with controls; there was no difference at the level of the arms or head. Within the group of football players the increment of total skeleton BMD was similar in the young players, with less than 7 years of practice (age 20.6 +/- 0.9 years) compared with relative older players (age 24.6 +/- 1.9) with more than 7 years of practice. Lean body mass was significantly greater in the players (63.3 +/- 4.0 kg) compared with the controls (56.7 +/- 3.6, P < 0.001) whereas fat mass was markedly lower (9.4 +/- 2.9 kg versus 14.9 +/- 6.3 kg), P < 0.002). The BMD of the controls was significantly correlated to total weight, height, and lean mass whereas the BMD of the players was only correlated to muscle mass. The calcium intake from dairy products was similar in both groups. The range of calcium intake was wide among the players (184-2519 mg/day) but it was not significantly correlated to BMD (r = 0.03). In conclusion, male professional football players develop a significant increment of BMC as a result of increased bone size and density. This is already present at the end of the second decade and maintained at least to the end of the third decade in active players. As in other high impact loading sports, the effect on area is specific involving mainly the pelvis and legs. The increment was totally unrelated to the calcium intake from dairy products. The fate of the increased BMC after intensive training is discontinued should be assessed. However, if the findings of the present cross-sectional study are supported by detailed longitudinal investigations, the presently reported observations might be important for the prevention of future osteoporotic fractures.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1996

Hormone replacement therapy increases trabecular and cortical bone density in osteoporotic women.

Twenty five postmenopausal Caucasian women with established osteoporosis or severe osteopenia were treated with continuous combined estrogen/progesterone (2 mg 17 beta estradiol and 5 mg medroxiprogesterone) and 1000 mg of calcium daily. The mean age of the patients was 57 +/- 6 years (range 44 to 69 years), and the average postmenopausal interval was of 10.7 +/- 4.2 years. The bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and proximal femur was determined using DXA densitometer at baseline, 12 and 24 months of treatment. Serum and urine measurements were done at baseline and 12 months. After 24 months of treatment bone mineral density increased at the trochanter 10.2% p < 0.001, lumbar spine 9.6% p < 0.001, Ward's triangle 8.6% p < 0.005 and femoral neck 5.7% p < 0.001 in comparison to basal levels. In the first year of treatment serum alkaline phosphatase and urinary hydroxiproline diminished significantly in comparison to basal levels (p < 0.001, for both). In conclusion, this study indicates that continuous combined estrogen progesterone therapy decreases bone turnover and increases BMD of the spine, femoral neck and trochanter in established osteoporosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Proximal femoral fractures: risk factors, bone mineral density, body composition and biochemical changes in and age-matched patients and controls].

During one year (6/93-5/94) we performed a prospective study in patients with hip fracture, treated at the Hospital de Clínicas. A total of 102 women 52 to 94 years of age (Mean +/- 1SD: 79.5 +/- 9.1 years) and 17 men 61 to 98 years of age (79.7 +/- 9.9 years) who had sustained a hip fracture due to mild or moderate trauma were included. The ratio women: men was 6:1. We also studied 55 age-matched control women without diseases that could affect the skeleton or previous hip fracture (77.1 +/- 5.8 years of age). We did not study a control group in men. Women with hip fractures had lower weight (p < 0.01), lower age of onset of the menopause (p < 0.01) and a tendency to have with a greater frequency a mother with hip fracture (p < 0.08) compared with age-matched controls. When vertebral fractures were excluded, 44% of the hip fracture women had sustained previous skeletal fractures, while only 16% of the age-matched controls had suffered previous skeletal fractures (p < 0.001) (Table 2). The most frequent previous skeletal fractures were wrist and humerus. Forty eight percent of hip fracture women had had at least one vertebral fracture. About 17% of the hip fractured men had sustained previous skeletal fractures, while 5/12 men had suffered at least one vertebral fracture. Hip fractured women and men sustained greater history of diseases which provoke postural instability (Table 3). Biochemical determinations showed significantly diminished levels of serum albumin (p < 0.001) and calcium (p < 0.01), and increased serum PTH (p < 0.05) compared to age-matched controls (Table 4). Bone mineral density (determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) was significantly diminished over proximal femur, total skeleton, legs and pelvis (p < 0.001), head and spine (p < 0.05) (Table 5). Body composition measurements showed that hip fracture women had a significantly lower lean mass compared with controls (p < 0.05). Fat mass also was lower in fracture patients compared with controls, but the difference was not statistically significant (Table 5). We conclude that hip fracture in our population is related to several previous factors: earlier onset of menopause, lower nutrition and body weight, previous diseases that increase the likelihood of falling, increased levels of PTH and reduced bone mass. Prevention of hip fractures should take into account all these factors, specially those that could be modified.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[Evaluation of psychosomatic treatment--results of a catamnestic study].

The authors report first results of a program evaluation (n = 560) in a psychoanalytically oriented psychosomatic clinic. Based on a naturalistic design, the study includes three points of measurement (beginning and end of treatment, 1-year follow-up) at which data were collected from patients and therapists. The article gives an overview of the general issues involved as well as of the methodological procedure and presents some catamnestic subjective and cost-relevant singular outcome criteria.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Coping with illness by young diabetic patients: a comparison from the viewpoint of patients, their parents and personal physicians].

108 adolescents with type 1 diabetes as well as their parents and physicians in charge were studied in a prospective longitudinal design. Most of the juvenile patients were of good metabolic control. The results from different questionnaires of coping are presented. The opinions of the patients, their parents and the physicians in charge differ in some important aspects. Furthermore there are significant differences between the patients of best versus worst metabolic control as far as the extent of self reported psychosocial problems related with the disease is concerned.

Adaptation, Psychological↗