Characteristics of total body and appendicular bone mineral content and density in Japanese collegiate Sumo wrestlers

The purpose of this study was to explore the characteristics of total body and appendicular bone mineral content (BMC, kg) and bone mineral density (BMD, g/cm(2)) in Japanese collegiate Sumo wrestlers. A total of 54 male college Sumo wrestlers were recruited for the study and assigned to two groups according to their body weight (middleweight, 85–115 kg, n = 23 and heavyweight, > 115 kg, n = 31). The BMC, BMD, fat mass, and lean soft tissue mass (LSTM) values were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for the total body and appendicular regions. Heavyweight Sumo wrestlers had significantly higher body weight, fat mass, and LSTM compared to middleweight Sumo wrestlers. The mean total body and regional BMC values were significantly higher in heavyweight than in middleweight Sumo wrestlers. The total body and leg BMD was significantly higher in heavyweight than in middleweight Sumo wrestlers, and was significantly correlated with body weight, but not arm BMD. The present study indicates that BMC and BMD might not sharply elevate among even heavyweight athletes, although heavier Sumo wrestlers had a greater BMC and BMD.