Whole body bone mineral accretion in healthy children and adolescents

Data on accretion in bone size and bone mineral content (BMC) are needed to evaluate bone mineralisation during childhood. Whole body bone mineral content (BMC) and bone area (BA) were determined by dual energy x ray absorptiometry (Hologic 1000/W) with a one year interval in healthy girls (n = 192) and boys (n = 140) aged 6-19 years. Annual accretion in BMC (Delta BMC (g/year)) and BA (Delta BA (cm(2)/year)) according to sex and pubertal stages were calculated. Delta BA and Delta BMC were highly significantly associated with pubertal stages in girls and boys. Gentile curves for Delta BA and Delta BMC according to sex and age were constructed using the LIMS method. Peak Delta BA and Delta BMC values were reached earlier in girls (12.3 and 12.5 years, respectively) than in boys (13.4 and 14.2 years, respectively). The Delta BA peak tvas dissociated in time from the Delta BMC peak, indicating that increase in bone size occurs before increase in bone mineral content. Assuming that 32.2% of BMG consist of calcium, the median (90th centile) annual bone calcium accretion in pubertal stage III was 220 mg/day (302) and 317 mg/day (386) for girls and boys, respectively. To obtain an average bone calcium accretion, a high calcium absorption is needed during puberty. This may have implications for dietary calcium requirements at this time.