The Impact of Nordic Walking on Bone Properties in Postmenopausal Women with Pre-Diabetes and Non-Alcohol Fatty Liver Disease

This study investigated the impact of Nordic walking on bone properties in postmenopausal women with pre-diabetes and non-alcohol fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A total of 63 eligible women randomly participated in the Nordic walking training (AEx, n = 33), or maintained their daily lifestyle (Con, n = 30) during intervention. Bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) of whole body (WB), total femur (TF), femoral neck (FN), and lumbar spine (L2-4) were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum osteocalcin, pentosidine, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) levels were analyzed by ELISA assay. After an 8.6-month intervention, the AEx group maintained their BMC(TF), BMD(TF), BMC(L2−4), and BMD(L2−4), and increased their BMC(FN) (p = 0.016), while the Con group decreased their BMC(TF) (p = 0.008), BMD(TF) (p = 0.001), and BMD(L2−4) (p = 0.002). However, no significant group × time interaction was observed, except for BMD(L2−4) (p = 0.013). Decreased pentosidine was correlated with increased BMC(WB)(r = −0.352, p = 0.019). The intervention has no significant effect on osteocalcin and RANKL. Changing of bone mass was associated with changing of pentosidine, but not with osteocalcin and RANKL. Our results suggest that Nordic walking is effective in preventing bone loss among postmenopausal women with pre-diabetes and NAFLD.