Gender and race differences in bone mass during infancy

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Published on: January 29, 2018

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.

Calcified Tissue International
|June 1, 1996
PubMed

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.

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