Pubertal Changes in Bone Mineral Content of The Wrist and Spine in Normal Boys and Girls

We measured the bone mineral content of the wrist and spine using single and dual photon absorptiometry (SPA and DPA) in 165 normal boys and girls to quantitate the contribution of normal pubertal development to the attainment of adult bone mass. We constructed bone density ranges for spine and wrist bone density for each pubertal stage in girls (breast) and boys (pubic hair). Wrist bone density measurements (±SD) for girls and boys, pubertal stages 1 and 5, were 0.41±0.06 and 0.62±0.05gm/cm2 (girls) and 0.46±0.08 and 0.70±0.08gm/cm2 (boys), respectively. Spine bone density measurements (±SD) for girls and boys, pubertal stages 1 and 5, were 0.78±0.09 and 1.18±0.13gm/cm2 (girls) and 0.81±0.10 and 1.22±0.23gm/cm2 (boys), respectively. Thus, bone mineral content of the wrist and spine increased during pubertal development (between stage 1 and 5) by approximately 50% for boys and girls. The wrist bone density of boys was significantly greater than that of girls (p