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Gender and race differences in bone mass during infancy
R C Rupich1, B L Specker, M Lieuw-A-Fa
1College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, PO Box 670541, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0541, USA.
Insights
In infants aged 1-18 months, male infants show higher bone mineral density (BMD) and content (BMC) than females. Black infants may have slightly higher BMD than white infants, considering weight and age.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Human Physiology
- Bone Health
Background:
- Early childhood is a critical period for bone development.
- Understanding demographic influences on bone mineral accrual is essential for assessing pediatric growth and skeletal health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential race and gender disparities in total body bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) during the first 18 months of life.
Main Methods:
- Total body bone mineral measurements were performed on 64 healthy infants aged 1-18 months.
- Statistical analyses accounted for infant weight and age to compare bone mineral parameters between race and gender groups.
Main Results:
- Male infants exhibited significantly greater bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) compared to female infants (P=0.02), after adjusting for weight and age.
- Black infants demonstrated a trend towards slightly higher BMD than white infants (P=0.07), though this did not reach statistical significance.
Conclusions:
- Sex is a significant determinant of bone mineral accrual in early infancy, with males showing higher values.
- While not statistically significant, race may also influence bone mineral density in infants, warranting further investigation.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine whether race or gender differences in total body bone mineral content (BMC) are evident within the first 18 months of age. Total body bone mineral measurements were obtained on 64 healthy infants 1-18 months of age. There were no significant differences in age, weight, or height between race and gender groups. Taking into account weight and age, both bone mineral density (BMD) and BMC were greater in male infants compared with female infants (both, P = 0.02) and BMD was slightly higher in black infants compared with white infants (P = 0.07).