Bone Mineral Growth in Black and White Children
Author Information
Author(s): Hui Siu L, Perkins Anthony J, Harezlak Jaroslaw, Peacock Munro, McClintock Cindy L, Johnston C Conrad
Primary Institution: Indiana University School of Medicine
Hypothesis
Black children gain bone mineral faster than white children during puberty.
Conclusion
The higher bone mass in black adults compared to whites is due to faster bone mineral accrual in prepuberty, not during puberty.
Supporting Evidence
- Black children had higher total-body bone mineral content than white children at all ages.
- Black children entered puberty earlier but spent only slightly longer in puberty than white children.
- Most racial differences in bone mineral accrual can be explained by growth in size.
Takeaway
Black children grow their bones faster than white children before puberty, but during puberty, white children grow faster.
Methodology
A cohort study measuring total-body bone mineral content in 188 children over 4 years.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-reported Tanner stages and unequal age distributions.
Limitations
The study was limited by the age range of subjects and moderate sample size.
Participant Demographics
188 healthy children aged 5 to 15, with 91 males and 97 females, balanced between black and white.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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