Total-body and regional bone mineral content and areal bone mineral density in children aged 8–18 y: the Fels Longitudinal Study

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Abstract
Techniques for cross-calibration of bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) between manufacturers of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) instruments are currently inadequate for total body measurements. Therefore, manufacturer-specific data for BMC and BMD in children are needed. We provided age- and sex-specific means and SDs for total-body and regional BMC and areal BMD in 8-18-y-old white children. BMC and BMD of the head, arms, legs, pelvis, spine, and total body were determined by DXA. Data include 465 annual measurements from 148 healthy children with body weights between 30 and 100 kg and statures <190 cm. There were significant sex differences in BMC at ages 15-18 y for the total body and legs, at ages 12 and 15-18 y for arms and pelvis, at ages 11-13 and 16-18 y for the spine, and at ages 10-11 y for the head. There were significant sex differences in BMD at ages 16-18 y for total body, arms, and legs; at ages 12-13 and 16-18 y for the pelvis; at ages 12-14 and 18 y for the spine; and at ages 13-18 y for the head. Data presented in this investigation can be used to compare the BMC and BMD of 8-18-y-old white children (with statures <190 cm and body weights between 30 and 100 kg) using DXA.