Bone Mineral Content in Preterm Infants at Age 4 to 16

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Abstract
The forearm bone mineral content (BMC) was determined in 75 children aged 4 to 16, who all had a low birth wt using photon absorptiometry. Of them 45 were born preterm AGA [appropriate for gestational age] (27 boys, 18 girls, mean weight 1,580 g; range 920-2,060 g) and 30 preterm SGA [small for gestational age] (17 boys, 13 girls, mean wt 1,510; range 940-2,130 g). The results were compared with a control group of children of the same age, and analyses of covariance with age, height and wt as the covariant factors were performed. The BMC, wt and height did not differ between the children born AGA or SGA. Irrespective of AGA or SGA, the BMC was significantly decreased in boys but the difference was less pronounced and less significant when height and wt were used as covariant factors. Boys who had been born preterm had a less BMC than the control boys for their age but they were also somewhat shorter and lighter than expected with regard to their age.