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Rate of radial bone mineral accretion in healthy children
W R Goslings1, T J Cole, A Prentice
1MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit, Cambridge, UK.
Insights
This study provides the first longitudinal reference data on radial bone mineral accretion in healthy children. Bone mineral accretion rates in children aged 6-12 years were determined, with key predictors identified.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Bone Biology
- Human Growth and Development
Background:
- Understanding bone mineral accretion is crucial for assessing pediatric bone health.
- Longitudinal data on radial bone mineral accretion rates in children are limited.
- Previous studies have not established normative reference data for this demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish the first longitudinal reference data for radial bone mineral accretion in healthy children.
- To determine the typical rates of bone mineral accretion in children aged 6-12 years.
- To identify key predictors of bone mineral accretion rate.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 392 healthy children aged 6-12 years.
- Measurement of radial bone width and mineral content.
- Analysis of anthropometric data including height and weight velocity.
Main Results:
- Typical bone mineral accretion rates were 0.044 g/cm/year for boys and 0.042 g/cm/year for girls.
- Accretion rates increased significantly in girls after age 9, linked to body size changes.
- Bone mineral content, height, and velocity of height, weight, and bone width best predicted accretion rates.
Conclusions:
- This study presents the first longitudinal reference data for radial bone mineral accretion in healthy children.
- Anthropometric factors are primary drivers of bone mineral accretion, with age being less significant after adjustment.
- These findings provide a valuable resource for pediatric bone health assessment.
Abstract:
Radial bone width and mineral content were measured in 392 healthy Cambridge children aged 6-12 years from a cohort of 420 children studied 2 years previously. The typical rate of bone mineral accretion was 0.044 g/cm/year for boys across the whole age range and 0.042 g/cm/year for girls up to a mean age of 9 years, rising rapidly thereafter in association with changes in body size. The factors best predicting bone mineral accretion rate were mean bone mineral content, mean height, height velocity, weight velocity and bone width velocity. After adjusting for anthropometry, age did not contribute to the model. These are the first available longitudinal reference data for the rate of radial bone mineral accretion in healthy children.