Bone mass in children: normative values for the 2-20-year-old population

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Bone Densitometry
• Human Physiology

Background:

• Establishing normative reference data for bone mass is crucial for assessing pediatric bone health.
• Previous studies may lack representation across a wide age range or specific geographic populations.
• Understanding age- and sex-specific bone development is essential for identifying potential abnormalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine normative values for whole body bone mineral content (WBBMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) at various skeletal sites in healthy Argentinian children and adolescents.
• To analyze age- and sex-related differences in bone mass accrual.
• To investigate the relationship between Tanner stage and bone mass development.

Main Methods:

• Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was used to assess WBBMC and BMD at the lumbar spine, radius, femoral neck, trochanter, and Ward's triangle.
• A cohort of 778 healthy Caucasian children and adolescents (2-20 years; 433 females, 345 males) from Argentina participated.
• Statistical analyses included comparisons across age groups and Tanner stages.

Main Results:

• WBBMC peaked around age 16 in females, with significant gender differences appearing at age 17.
• Femoral neck, trochanter, and Ward's triangle BMD increased until age 14 in females and until age 16 in males.
• Significant gender differences in lumbar spine BMD (boys > girls) were observed in individuals over 16 years old. Bone mass accrual correlated significantly with Tanner stages, particularly in earlier stages of puberty.

Conclusions:

• This study provides valuable normative bone mass data for Argentinian children and adolescents.
• Bone mass accrual follows distinct patterns related to age, sex, and pubertal development.
• The findings highlight the importance of age- and sex-specific reference ranges for interpreting pediatric bone density measurements.