Teenagers experiencing a late pubertal growth spurt have lower than average bone density, putting them at increased risk for osteoporosis in adulthood, a study finds.
Tell me when your puberty started, I’ll tell you if your bones are strong.
This is, in essence, the conclusion of a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Bristol. Posted in JAMA Network Openthis new work establishes a link between the age at which puberty occurs during adolescence and bone mineral density until adulthood.
Lower than average bone density
To reach this conclusion, the researchers carried out 6 medical imaging examinations called bone scans on 6,389 children aged between 10 and 25 years. Their objective: to assess whether the moment of puberty had an influence on bone density throughout adolescence and early adulthood.
They found that although adolescents who experienced late puberty caught up with their peers in terms of growth, their bone density remained below average for several years until they entered adulthood.
An increased risk of osteoporosis
However, explain the researchers, the maximum bone mass at the end of the growth spurts in adolescents is considered an indication of a future risk of fracture and osteoporosis. A silent disease whose first symptoms generally appear before the age of 50, osteoporosis is a disease characterized by excessive fragility of the skeleton, due to a reduction in bone mass and the alteration of bone micro-architecture.
“Thanks to the study, we were able, for the first time, to examine children in detail as they become young adults and observe their bone density. I wish there were more advice for people who reach their puberty later on the steps they can take to strengthen their bones,” says Dr. Ahmed Elhakeem, lead author of the study.
For Alison Doyle, Head of Operations and Clinical Practice at the Royal Osteoporosis Society, the new research “adds to a current gap in understanding how bone density changes from puberty to early adulthood. “. Investing in research is essential to better understand the causes of osteoporosis and to help people maintain good bone health throughout their lives.
The researchers have not yet finished their work because they could not draw conclusions on the influence of the final adult height on the results. As the study participants are still in their twenties, it will be important to follow up with them as they age to draw conclusions about fractures at an age. more advanced.
“Next steps should include more detailed assessments of the long-term effects of puberty on growth and bone development,” concludes Alison Doyle.
.
