Lumbar spine bone density in Argentine children

It has been demonstrated that bone mineral density (BMD) in children and adolescents is influenced by individual height. The aim of the present work was to introduce a formula to include height in the BMD analysis. Postero-anterior (PA) (L2-L4) and lateral (L2-L3) lumbar BMD was assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in 433 and 393, respectively, healthy Caucasian females from 2 to 20 years of age. A complete medical examination including weight, height, and Tanner puberal stage was performed in all the subjects. Bone age was assessed by left wrist radiographs and analyzed by the TW2 method to insure that it was within 1 year of chronological age. Bone mineral density adjusted for height (BMDcorr = BMC/projected area x height), was calculated for each individual. As analyzed by Tanner stage, both PA and lateral BMD increased up to stage 3, and there were no significant differences among stages 3-5. Results of BMDcorr variations related to Tanner stage suggested that the increase in lateral BMD before puberty might be related to height. PA BMDcorr increased up to Tanner stage 3, and there were no differences among stages 3-5. The BMDCORR approach can be used to get a more reliable analysis of BMD studies in children and adolescents.