Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026
Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
A cross-sectional survey of factors influencing bone mass in junior high school students
Yuka Tamura1, Isao Saito, Yasuhiko Asada
1Department of Applied Bioresource Science, The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Ehime University, 3-5-7 Tarumi, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8566, Japan. tamura.yuka.my@ehime-u.ac.jp
Objective:
The purpose of this study is to investigate factors influencing the osteo-sono assessment index (OSI) in junior high school students (boys, girls who had reached menarche, and girls who had not).
Methods:
A total of 9,743 students (4,974 boys and 4,769 girls) in Ehime Prefecture participated in this study. We measured body mass index (BMI) and calcaneal bone mass using OSI. In parallel, participants answered a questionnaire relating to age, sex, menarche, exercise habits, milk intake, and history of bone fractures during the preceding year. To determine the factors influencing OSI, we calculated an individual standardized partial regression coefficient (β) using multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis.
Results:
For boys, MLR showed that BMI (β = 0.300), age (β = 0.260), current exercise habits (β = 0.106), and milk intake per day in primary school (β = 0.085) statistically significantly influenced OSI. For girls who had reached menarche, BMI (β = 0.302), current exercise habits (β = 0.237), age (β = 0.140), and bone fracture during the preceding year (β = 0.036) influenced OSI. For girls who had not reached menarche, current exercise habits (β = 0.242), BMI (β = 0.135), and age (β = 0.085) influenced OSI.
Conclusions:
There were differences between the factors related to OSI among boys, girls who had reached menarche, and girls who had not. BMI, exercise habits, and age were the common factors related to OSI. Particularly for girls, exercise habits had a great influence on OSI.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
01:50Cross-Sectional Research
01:17Hormones and Bone Tissue
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...
01:20Study Designs in Epidemiology
Observational studies are those where the researcher does not intervene but rather observes natural variations. They include cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies.
01:25Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is involved in the process of bone remodeling. Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of Vitamin A, has nuclear receptors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone remodeling.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor during the formation of osteoblast-related proteins, such as osteocalcin. Vitamin B12 plays a role...
01:09Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...