Related Experiment Videos
Bone mineral content in normal and malnourished children
A Chaturvedi1, O P Garg, B Choudhary
1Department of Pediatrics, J.L.N. Medical College, Ajmer.
Insights
Malnourished children show reduced bone mineral content (BMC) compared to healthy peers. This study establishes normal BMC ranges for Indian children, aiding in early detection of bone demineralization during growth.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutrition Science
- Radiology
Background:
- Bone mineral content (BMC) is crucial for skeletal health during childhood growth.
- Malnutrition can negatively impact bone development, but specific data for Indian children is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine normal bone mineral content (BMC) at the distal radius in Indian children aged 2-14 years.
- To compare BMC levels between healthy children and those suffering from malnutrition.
- To establish reference data for identifying bone demineralization in malnourished children.
Main Methods:
- Single photon absorptiometry was used to measure BMC at the distal radius.
- Study included 70 children (34 healthy, 36 malnourished) aged 2-14 years.
- Children were divided into age groups: 2-5, 6-10, and 11-14 years.
Main Results:
- Normal BMC values were established for Indian children across different age groups.
- BMC increased with age, correlating with growth spurts in the 2-5 and 11-14 year groups.
- Significantly lower BMC was observed in malnourished children, particularly in grades III malnutrition and specific age groups (2-5 and 11-14 years).
Conclusions:
- The study provides essential reference data for bone mineral content in Indian children.
- Reduced BMC in malnourished children highlights the impact of nutritional status on skeletal health.
- This data can aid in the early detection and management of bone demineralization in growing children affected by malnutrition.
Abstract:
Bone mineral content (BMC) was determined at the distal radius in 70 children aged 2-14 years; Group I comprising 34 normal healthy children and Group II 36 malnourished children by the method of single photon absorptiometry. The mean value of BMC in Group I was 0.3 +/- 0.04 g/cm in 2-5 year, 0.52 +/- 0.08 g/cm in 6-10 year and 0.77 +/- 0.88 g/cm in 11-14 year age groups. No significant difference in the BMC was seen between boys and girls. An increase of BMC corresponded to growth spurts in 2-5 year and 11-14 year age groups. There was a significant reduction of BMC in Group II and in grade III malnutrition in 2-5 year and 11-14 year age groups as compared to Group I children. The study provides normal BMC data for Indian children and suggests that this can help to detect undemineralization of bones in malnourished children during the growth periods.