AUTHOR=Wang Lijun , Zhang Hongli , Xu Tuo , Zhang Jing , Liu Yuanyuan , Qu Yue 

TITLE=Effects of cheerleading practice on advanced glycation end products, areal bone mineral density, and physical fitness in female adolescents

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.954672

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2022.954672

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Exercise has been widely reported to promote bone health, but it is unknown whether is associated with a reduction in advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs). This study aimed to investigate the effects of 14 weeks of cheerleading exercise on areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and AGEs.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> In this study, 46 female teenagers (age, 19.52 ± 1.21 years; body mass index, 20.15 ± 2.47 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) were randomly divided into a cheerleading group (CHE, <italic>n</italic> = 21) and a control group (CON, <italic>n</italic> = 25). The CHE group was subjected to cheerleading practice twice a week for 14 weeks; the CON group maintained their daily routine. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure aBMD, and autofluorescence (AF) values were used to reflect AGEs. Physical fitness testing all-in-one machines are used to test body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle fitness and flexibility. A mixed ANOVA model was used to examine the effect of the intervention on each outcome. A multiple mediation model with covariates for physical activity and eating behaviors was performed to explore the mediators between cheerleading exercise and aBMD.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> After 14 weeks of cheerleading practice, 1) aBMD increased significantly in both groups with significantly higher increases in the CHE group (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). 2) AGEs significantly decreased in the CHE group (−2.7%), but not in the CON group (<italic>p</italic> &gt; 0.05). 3) Vertical jumps and sit-ups significantly increased in the CHE group (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05), but not in the CON group (<italic>p</italic> &gt; 0.05). 4) ΔAF values was significantly negatively correlated with <italic>Δ</italic> aBMD (<italic>r</italic> = −0.302, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). 5) ΔAF values mediated the effect of exercise on the aBMD (indirect effect: 0.0032, 95% CI 0.0002–0.0079).</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Cheerleading practice improved aBMD and physical fitness and reduced AGEs accumulation in female adolescents. The effect of exercise on aBMD was partially mediated by AGEs.</p>