Related Experiment Videos
Vertebral bone density in insulin-dependent diabetic children
Insights
Children with uncomplicated insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) show slightly lower cortical bone density in their lumbar vertebrae. Trabecular bone density remains unaffected in these pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Pediatrics
- Bone Metabolism
Background:
- Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a chronic condition affecting children and adolescents.
- Bone health is a critical aspect of long-term health in diabetic populations.
- Previous research on bone density in pediatric IDDM is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of uncomplicated IDDM on bone mass in children.
- To compare trabecular and cortical bone density in the lumbar vertebrae of diabetic children and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative computed tomography (CT) was used to measure bone density.
- 48 pediatric patients with IDDM (ages 5.2-19.6) were compared to 48 matched healthy controls.
- Exclusion criteria included diabetes complications like neuropathy and retinopathy.
Main Results:
- Diabetic children exhibited a statistically significant, albeit minor, 3.5% decrease in cortical bone density compared to controls (P < .02).
- No significant difference was observed in trabecular bone density between the groups.
- Cortical bone density reduction did not correlate with diabetes duration, age, sex, or glycosylated hemoglobin levels.
Conclusions:
- Uncomplicated IDDM in children is associated with a minor reduction in vertebral cortical bone density.
- Trabecular bone density appears unaffected in this pediatric population.
- These findings suggest bone density changes in pediatric IDDM are specific to cortical bone and generally mild.
Abstract:
To determine the effect of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) on bone mass, we compared the trabecular and cortical bone density in lumbar vertebrae, measured by quantitative computed tomography (CT), in 48 white diabetic patients (23 females, 25 males; 5.2 to 19.6 years of age) with those of a control group of 48 healthy subjects, matched for race, sex, and age. Patients with neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, and those with recent ketoacidosis were excluded from the study. The patient and control groups did not differ in sexual or skeletal maturation, weight, height, surface area, body mass index, abdominal fat, or paraspinal musculature. In diabetic children, cortical bone density was slightly but significantly lower than in controls (3.5% lower, P less than .02); there was no difference between patients and controls regarding trabecular bone density. The decrease in cortical bone density in the diabetic group did not correlate with age, sex, duration of diabetes, or glycosylated hemoglobin levels. These results suggest that in children with uncomplicated IDDM, decreased vertebral bone density is a minor abnormality that only affects cortical bone.