How different sports affect bone metabolism in professional athletes
Official title: Study of the Metabolic Profile of Bone in Professional Athletes as a Function of the Kind of Physical Activity Performed
Run by I.R.C.C.S Ospedale Galeazzi-Sant'Ambrogio · NCT03386981 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We will test whether different types of physical activity change bone metabolism and related hormone and energy‑metabolism markers in healthy adult professional athletes.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 200 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | I.R.C.C.S Ospedale Galeazzi-Sant'Ambrogio Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Milan) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 4, 2016 |
| Main results expected | February 4, 2026 |
| Study ends | February 4, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | September 11, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT03386981 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are healthy adult (≥18) Caucasian professional athletes without primary metabolic bone disease, recent fractures, recent cancer, active inflammatory conditions, or chronic medication use.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals who are pregnant, under 18, have primary metabolic bone disease, recent fractures, ongoing cancer or inflammatory disease, or who take chronic medications are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational study compares professional athletes engaged in different kinds of physical activity to characterize bone turnover markers, energy‑metabolism indicators, hormone profiles, and basic organ function. Participants provide blood and saliva samples for biochemical testing; imaging is not part of the protocol. Researchers will correlate biochemical profiles with the type and intensity of physical activity to identify patterns linked to higher or lower bone metabolic activity. The study is conducted at Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi in Milan and enrolls healthy adult Caucasian athletes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, results could help tailor training and nutrition strategies to protect and optimize bone health in athletes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show weight‑bearing exercise improves bone density, but comprehensive profiling that links bone turnover with energy metabolism, hormones, and organ function specifically in professional athletes is less well established.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * \>/= 18 yo * healthy status * caucasians Exclusion Criteria: * \< 18 yo * pregnancy status * ongoing or previous (\<5 years) neoplasia * acute or chronic inflammatory pathologies * primary metabolic diseases of bone * recent bone fractures (\< 6 months) * chronic drugs * recent drugs administration (\< 2 months) for non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids * anxious-depressive conditions * inability to understand the information given by the recruiting physician
Where it's running
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Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi
Milan, Italy Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Giovanni Lombardi, PhD
- Email: giovanni.lombardi@grupposandonato.it
- Phone: 0039026621
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.