In my last blog post, I discussed findings that a Mediterranean diet rich in extra virgin olive is associated with bone health. In that blog, I refer to findings that osteocalcin is believed to influence metabolism by causing the the pancreas to release more insulin while also increasing insulin sensitivity.

In 2007, researchers at Columbia University Medical Center discovered the connection between osteocalcin and insulin. In 2010 those same researchers found that resorption -- the process of old bone breaking down as part of skeletal regrowth -- is integral to healthy glucose (blood sugar) regulation. In what lead researcher Gerard Karsenty, MD, PhD referred to as a "feed-forward loop" insulin promotes the activation of osteocalcin, which in turn promotes insulin synthesis and secretion.

I find it quite fascinating that the skeleton plays such an integral role in metabolism. The researchers stated that the findings "suggest that, for some people, diabetes may develop from changes in the skeleton (emphasis mine), and that drugs designed to stimulate the bone-insulin pathway may lead to better drugs for type 2 diabetes." I will have to quite frankly say that I was blown away by the last part of that statement. Really!? Drugs!? Because drugs and supplements have been so effective in the past in helping people build healthy bones? I don't think so!

Why wasn't the conclusion that a possible course of treatment for diabetes was that people exercise, stand, walk or whatever to stimulate bone regrowth? A recent study found that exercise increases the activity of a protein that promotes bone growth while suppressing a protein that inhibits bone growth.

At the University of Florida, researchers were able to reverse the bone loss caused by prednisone use in transplant patients. Prednisone is used to reduce the risk of tissue rejection; however, it depletes bone mass. According to Dr. Randy Braith, an associate professor of exercise physiology in UF’s exercise and sport sciences department, nearly 70 percent of lung-transplant candidates already have established osteoporosis before transplantation. The drugs given to suppress the immune system after transplantation results in further bone loss.

Organ transplant patients were once restricted from weight training because of the perceived risk of muscle or bone injury. However, in this study, organ transplant recipients who were put on a weight training program added an average of 15 percent bone mass in the lumbar spine, compared with a group that did not participate in weight-lifting exercise. No incidents or injury or fractures were reported. Braith contends that the effectiveness of weight training increasing bone mass is significant because few medications can stop bone loss and even fewer effectively stimulate new bone growth.

Results from a new study reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that resistance exercise can significantly lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The research analyzed data on 32,000 men over an 18 year period. Significant findings included:

• Exercising at least 150 minutes weekly, doing both aerobic and resistance exercise, resulted in a 59% reduction of developing type-2 diabetes compared to a sedentary lifestyle.
• Both aerobic and resistance exercise were associated with lower diabetes risk; however a combination of the two provided the greatest risk reduction benefit.
• As little as 10 minutes a day provided a benefit. Increased time spent weight training resulted in increased protection against type 2 diabetes.

I blog a lot about the benefits of exercise because I'm a firm believer its importance on so many different levels - weight control, stress reduction, immune system function and improved cognitive ability. More and more studies support the importance of exercise in attaining and maintaining health. In addition to the Dr. Grandma's website, the National Institute of Health site Exercise for Your Bone Health provides great information. My advice is to stay away from the drugs and the supplements. Choose a
"treatment" that is proven to be effective and doesn't have any negative side effects -- start weight training today. You might be pleasantly surprised at how good exercise can make you feel.