Generalized low bone mass of girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is related to inadequate calcium intake and weight bearing physical activity in peripubertal period

Generalized low bone mass has been well documented in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, studies linking calcium-intake (CA), weight-bearing physical-activity (PA) and bone mass of AIS are lacking. We aimed to study the relationship between CA, PA and bone mass in AIS girls and compared to those of healthy non-AIS controls during the peripubertal period. Newly diagnosed AIS girls (n=596) aged 11-16 years with Cobb angle >/=10 degrees were recruited to compare with age-matched healthy girls (n=302) in a cross-sectional study. Anthropometric parameters, pubertal status, CA and PA were assessed. Areal bone mass of lumbar spine and femoral neck, and volumetric bone mass of distal radius and tibia were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and peripheral quantitative computed tomography, respectively. The results showed that weight and body mass index (BMI) of AIS were lower than the controls (P