| Abstract
| - Abstract. Total body bone mineral content (TBBMC) and regional bone mineral content (BMC) was measured in the members of the Spanish National Dance Company (15 female, mean age 25.1±3.8 years, and 15 male, mean age 28.2±2.1 years) and in 30 controls (15 women, mean age 26.1±1.8 years, and 15 mean, mean age 28.0±1.5 years). Ca, P, and Mg intake were greater in the group of ballet dancers than in controls analysis of variance (ANOVA, allP<0.0001). BMC was similar in the group of ballet dancers and controls except in the trunk without pelvis (P<0.001). Both male and female dancers weighed less than controls (P<0.05). The BMC of the male dancers was less than that of male controls only in the trunk (P<0.05) and in the trunk without pelvis (P<0.005); BMC was lower in female dancers than in female controls only in the arms and in the trunk without pelvis (P<0.05 andP<0.005, respectively). TBBMC, adjusted for weight and age, was correlated partially with caloric intake (kcal/day) and with Ca, P, Mg, and Zn intake (g/day), and yielded significant differences between the dancers and controls only in P intake (P<0.01), and between male dancers and male controls only in caloric intake and in Ca, P, and Zn intake (allP<0.01, except for Ca,P<0.05). The lower trunk bone mass observed in the female dancers is a risk factor for eventual osteoporosis.
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