Acquisition of peak bone mass in a Norwegian youth cohort: longitudinal findings from the Fit Futures study 2010–2022

Summary

In a Norwegian youth cohort followed from adolescence to young adulthood, bone mineral density (BMD) levels declined at the femoral neck and total hip from 16 to 27 years but continued to increase at the total body indicating a site-specific attainment of peak bone mass.

Purpose

To examine longitudinal trends in bone mineral density (BMD) levels in Norwegian adolescents into young adulthood.

Method

In a prospective cohort design, we followed 980 adolescents (473 (48%) females) aged 16–19 years into adulthood (age of 26–29) on three occasions: 2010–2011 (Fit Futures 1 (FF1)), 2012–2013 (FF2), and 2021–2022 (FF3), measuring BMD (g/cm²) at the femoral neck, total hip, and total body with dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). We used linear mixed models to examine longitudinal BMD changes from FF1 to FF3.

Results

From the median age of 16 years (FF1), femoral neck BMD (mean g/cm² (95% CI)) slightly increased in females from 1.070 (1.059–1.082) to 1.076 (1.065–1.088, p = 0.015) at the median age of 18 years (FF2) but declined to 1.041 (1.029–1.053, p < 0.001) at the median age of 27 years (FF3). Similar patterns were observed in males: 16 years, 1.104 (1.091–1.116); 27 years, 1.063 (1.050–1.077, p < 0.001); and for the total hip in both sexes (both p < 0.001). Total body BMD increased from age 16 to 27 years in both sexes (females: 16 years, 1.141 (1.133–1.148); 27 years, 1.204 (1.196–1.212), p < 0.001; males: 16 years, 1.179 (1.170–1.188); 27 years, 1.310 (1.296–1.315), p < 0.001).

Conclusion

BMD levels increased from 16 to 18 years at the femoral and total hip sites in young Norwegian females and males, and a small decline was observed at the femoral sites when the participants were followed up to 27 years. Total body BMD continued to increase from adolescence to young adulthood.