Bone mineral content in growing children

In order to establish the normal values of bone mineral content (BMC) (g/cm2), the BMC of 140 healthy growing children including 49 girls (aged 5 to 16 years) and 91 boys (aged 7 to 17 years) was measured using Dual Photon absorptiometry (DPA) at L2-L4 level of the spine. The BMC increased significantly with age, after stratification by age. Both male and female children aged 7 to 10 years had similar BMC, but female children had significantly higher BMC at 12 to 13 years of age. We also established regression equations. Female: BMC = 0.38 + 0.021 x age. Male: BMC = 0.45 + 0.017 x age. They may be useful in estimating BMC in unknown individuals