Sarah Wherry PhD

Title: Principal Investigator; Assistant Professor, Medicine-Geriatrics

Contact: sarah.wherry@cuanschutz.edu

University of Colorado webpage

Research Interest

My research interests include the molecular regulation of bone mass during exercise, especially for older adults. My current research projects focus on 
1) the impact of mode of endurance exercise on the exercise-induced disruption of calcium homeostasis; 
2) the use of advanced imaging technology to detect microarchitectural changes in bone during different modes of exercise training; 
3) the effect of resistance versus endurance exercise training on catabolic and anabolic effects of exercise on bone; and 
4) how exercise and pharmacologic interventions can be used to attenuate weight loss-induced bone loss.

Grants & Funding

Anabolic Versus Catabolic Skeletal Effects of Endurance or Resistance Exercise in Older Veterans

Role: PI; 
The decrease in serum ionized calcium and the increase in parathyroid hormone and c-telopeptide of type I collagen (a marker of bone formation) that occurs during exercise, referred to as a disruption in calcium homeostasis, may explain why bone does not always result in the expected exercise-induced increase in bone mass or why exercise may lead to bone loss under certain conditions. 
The disruption in calcium homeostasis has been well-characterized for acute endurance exercise. Still, the effects of resistance exercise and training could be more precise. 
This study aims to determine if resistance exercise results in a different bone biomarker response than endurance exercise. The study also explores if ten weeks of endurance or resistance training disrupts calcium homeostasis. 
Blood samples will be collected before, during, and after the exercise training period to assess changes in bone resorption and formation markers. Data will be used to develop future exercise interventions in older Veterans to preserve bone health.
Funder: Veterans Affairs
NIH website

Comparison of Exercise Mode on Disruptions in Calcium Homeostasis

Role: PI
Endurance exercise can improve cardiometabolic health, maintain bone health throughout life, and prevent osteoporotic fractures. However, evidence suggests that bone does not always adapt as expected. Endurance exercise may lead to bone loss under certain conditions. 
Disruptions in calcium homeostasis during exercise may explain this observation. Preliminary data suggests that the mode of exercise (i.e., cycling versus treadmill) may result in different magnitudes of change in bone biomarkers. 
This study aims to determine if the mode of exercise results in a differential bone biomarker response to an acute exercise bout in older Veterans. 
Blood samples will be collected before, during, and after two acute exercise bouts: 1) brisk treadmill walking; and 2) vigorous stationary cycling. 
This data will help develop future exercise interventions in older Veterans to preserve cardiometabolic and bone health.
Funder: Veterans Affairs
NIH website
Recruiting ↠ The study Mode of Exercise Training on the Bone Response to Exercise in Older Veterans (MoVe) is recruiting research subjects, click to learn more.

Recent Publications

2024

Beavers KM, Wolle BR, Ard JD, Beavers DP, Biehl O, Brubaker PH, Burghardt AJ, Calderone CT, Carballido-Gamio J, Fanning J, Kohrt WM, Love M, MacLean CM, Nicklas BJ, Stapleton J, Swanson CM, Weaver AA, Worden M, Wherry SJ. The Bone, Exercise, Alendronate, and Caloric Restriction (BEACON) trial design and methods. Contemp Clin Trials. 2024 Sep 17;146:107692. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2024.107692. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39293778.

Abbate LM, Jordan SR, Ho PM, Matlock DD, Allen KD, Wherry S, Wellington T, Buxo ZJ, Richardson V, McGuire C, Pearson M, Hall KS, Nearing KA. Older Veterans' perspectives on participation in a clinical exercise program: A qualitative study of the VA Gerofit exercise program. SAGE Open Med. 2024 Aug 27;12:20503121241271759. doi: 10.1177/20503121241271759. PMID: 39206229; PMCID: PMC11350545.

Wherry SJ. Calcium balance: considerations for the bone response to exercise. J Bone Miner Res. 2024 Mar 13:zjae001. doi: 10.1093/jbmr/zjae001. Epub ahead of print. 
PMID: 38484138.

2023

Robbins R, Porter Starr KN, Addison O, Parker EA, Wherry SJ, Ikpe S, Serra MC. Prevalence and Socioeconomic Determinates of Food Insecurity in Veterans: Findings from NHANES. Public Health Nutr. 2023 Mar 13:1-24. doi: 10.1017/S1368980023000538. Epub ahead of print. 
PMID: 36912105.

2021

Wherry SJ, Swanson CM, Kohrt WM. Acute catabolic bone metabolism response to exercise in young and older adults: A narrative review. Exp Gerontol. 2021 Nov 23:111633. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2021.111633. Epub ahead of print. 
PMID: 34826573.

Wherry SJ, Blatchford PJ, Swanson CM, Wellington T, Boxer RS, Kohrt WM. Maintaining Serum Ionized Calcium during Brisk Walking Attenuates the Increase in Bone Resorption in Older Adults. Bone. 2021 Jul 9:116108. doi: 10.1016/j.bone.2021.116108. Epub ahead of print. 
PMID: 34252605.

Wherry SJ, Miller RM, Jeong SH, Beavers KM. The Ability of Exercise to Mitigate Caloric Restriction-Induced Bone Loss in Older Adults: A Structured Review of RCTs and Narrative Review of Exercise-Induced Changes in Bone Biomarkers. Nutrients. 2021 Apr 10;13(4):1250. doi: 10.3390/nu13041250. PMCID: PMC8070587. 
PMID: 33920153.

Wherry SJ, Wolfe P, Schwartz RS, Kohrt WM, Jankowski CM. Ibuprofen taken before exercise blunts the IL-6 response in older adults but does not alter bone alkaline phosphatase or c-telopeptide. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2021 Apr 19. doi: 10.1007/s00421-021-04691-8. Epub ahead of print. 
PMID: 33876259.