Sex differences in bone mass acquisition during growth: the Fels Longitudinal Study

Risk of osteoporosis in later life may be determined during adolescence and young adulthood. The present study used longitudinal data to examine the accumulation of bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in Caucasian subjects ages 6-36 yr. Growth in BMC and BMD (measured by dual X...

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Published inJournal of clinical densitometry Vol. 4; no. 2; p. 147
Main Authors Nguyen, T V, Maynard, L M, Towne, B, Roche, A F, Wisemandle, W, Li, J, Guo, S S, Chumlea, W C, Siervogel, R M
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 2001
Subjects
Absorptiometry, Photon
Adolescent
Adult
Aging - physiology
Bone Density
Bone Development
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Osteoporosis - epidemiology
Risk Assessment
Sex Characteristics
Time Factors
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Summary:Risk of osteoporosis in later life may be determined during adolescence and young adulthood. The present study used longitudinal data to examine the accumulation of bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in Caucasian subjects ages 6-36 yr. Growth in BMC and BMD (measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry; Lunar, Madison, WI) of 94 males and 92 females was monitored for a mean period of 4.29 yr. The main findings were that there were no sex differences in BMC or BMD during the prepubertal stage; however, females had significantly higher BMD of the pelvis and BMC and BMD of the spine during puberty, and postpubertal males generally had significantly higher BMC and BMD than their female counterparts. In addition, the longitudinal rate of bone accumulation in both sexes increased rapidly during childhood and adolescence and was nearly complete at the end of puberty. Finally, peak BMC and BMD was achieved between the ages of 20 and 25 and occurred earlier in females than in males. The rates of growth and timing of peak bone mass as reported here define the crucial period during which intervention protocols should be developed for maximizing skeletal mass to prevent the development of osteoporosis.
ISSN:1094-6950