Effects of honey supplementation combined with different jumping exercise intensities on bone mass, serum bone metabolism markers and gonadotropins in female rats

BACKGROUND: The effects of high and low jumping exercise intensities combined with honey on bone and gonadotrophins were investigated in eighty four 9 week-old female rats. METHODS: The experimental groups were 20 or 80 jumps per day combined with or without honey supplementation (HJ(20,) HJ(80), J(20) and J(80)), honey supplementation (H), sedentary without supplementation control (C), and baseline control (C(0)) groups. RESULTS: Study results showed that HJ(80) elicited greatest beneficial effects on tibial and femoral mass, serum total calcium and alkaline phosphatase concentrations. There were significantly (p < 0.05) lower levels of serum follicle stimulating hormone concentrations in H, J(20), J(80) compared to C, with exception of HJ(20) and HJ(80). Serum luteinizing hormone concentrations were significantly (p < 0.05) greater in HJ(20), HJ(80) and J(20) compared to J(80). CONCLUSIONS: It appears that high intensity jumping exercise combined with honey supplementation resulted more discernable effects on bone. Meanwhile, honey may protect against the adverse effects induced by jumping exercise on gonadotropins in female rats.