Relation between ghrelin, obestatin and ghrelin to obestatin ratio with bone mineral density in active and non-active men

Previous laboratory studies have shown the importance of maintaining sufficient energy status for normal functioning of hormones that regulate bone formation and bone resorption. Ghrelin and obestatin are orexigenic and anorexigenic peptides, respectively that affect energy balance. According to the importance of physical activity in energy balance and bone density, the aim of this study was to investigate the amount of ghrelin, obestatin, ghrelin to obestatin ratio and bone mass density and their relationship in athletes and non-athletes 50 -70 years old men. In this analytical study, thirty athletes and thirty non- athletes 50-70 years old men took part in this research. Bone mass density of femur and lumbar vertebras were measured by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) and ghrelin and obestatin were measured by ELISA method. The result of t-test showed that femur and lumbar bone mass density and ghrelin to obestatin ratio were significant higher in athlete group (P<0.05). The result of Pearson correlation test showed that there was no significant relationship between ghrelin, obestatin and ghrelin to obestatin ratio with bone mass density. Regular participating in exercise training can increase bone mineral density and ghrelin to obestatin ratio in 50- 70 years old men. It seems that the relation between food intake and bone metabolism showed in previous researches is different with the relation between ghrelin, obestatin and ghrelin to obestatin ratio with bone density.