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 (HJ20, HJ80, J20 and J80), honey supplementation (H), sedentary without supplementation control (C), and baseline control (C0) groups. RESULTS Study results showed that HJ80 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, J20, J80 compared to C, with exception of HJ20 and HJ80. Serum luteinizing hormone concentrations were significantly (p < 0.05) greater in HJ20, HJ80 and J20 compared to J80. 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.