The Prevalence of Reduced Bone Mineral Density and the Impact of Specific Auxological Factors and Hormones on Bone Mass in Children with Endocrine Disorders

TL;DR

This study found that children with endocrine disorders, especially those with short stature, are at higher risk for low bone density, and adjusting for height improves diagnosis accuracy.

Contribution

The study introduces the importance of height-adjusted DXA interpretation in endocrine disorders to avoid overdiagnosis and identifies hormonal and auxological factors influencing bone mass.

Findings

Low bone mass was found in 34.46% of children at TBLH and 15.54% at the Spine before height adjustment.

Height adjustment significantly reduced the prevalence of low bone mass, especially in children with short stature.

IGF-1, estradiol, and testosterone positively correlate with bone mass, while vitamin D and bone turnover markers negatively affect it.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The skeletal system reaches peak bone mass through modeling and remodeling processes, influenced by environmental, dietary, hormonal, and genetic factors. In children with endocrinopathies, disturbances in bone mass and mineralization may correlate with hormonal levels, but conditions like short stature or obesity can confound DXA results. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of decreased bone mineral density (BMD) in children with endocrine disorders and evaluate the impact of auxological and hormonal abnormalities on BMD. Methods: This study analyzed medical records of 148 children (mean age 11.85 ± 3.34 years); 73 girls and 75 boys). Conditions included obesity (22.9%), short stature (47.9%), precocious puberty (10.1%), and other diagnoses. Clinical data included primary diagnosis, height, body weight, pubertal stage, and serum concentrations of calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, 25OHD, PTH, osteocalcin, Crosslaps, TSH, fT4, IGF-1, IGF-BP3, cortisol, estradiol, testosterone, and bone age. DXA scans were performed at the total body less head (TBLH) and lumbar spine (Spine) projection. Results: Low bone mass (aBMD Z-score ≤ −2) was found in 34.46% at TBLH and 15.54% at the Spine. After height adjustment (HAZ adjustment), the prevalence of low bone mass decreased to 11.4% at TBLH and 4.1% at the Spine. In the short stature group, the normalization of Z-scores for height significantly reduced abnormal results. A positive correlation was found between DXA parameters and age, height standard deviation score (HSDS), BMI SDS, estradiol, testosterone, IGF-1, and IGF-BP3. A negative correlation existed between vitamin D and DXA parameters. Bone turnover markers (osteocalcin and Crosslaps) also negatively affected bone mass. No significant correlations were found with PTH, TSH, fT4, or cortisol. In children with growth retardation, lower aBMDHAZ Z-scores were observed in those with decreased IGF-1. Positive correlations existed between BMI SDS, IGF-1, and adjusted aBMD Z-scores. Conclusions: Children with endocrine disorders, especially those with short stature, are at risk for bone mineralization disorders. Height normalization is crucial for accurate DXA interpretation and avoiding overdiagnosis. Positive influences on bone mass include height, BMI, IGF-1, estradiol, and testosterone, while negative factors include bone turnover markers and low vitamin D.

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