Bone mineral density in schoolchildren and students of the city of Krasnodar

Introduction. The state of bone tissue mineralization reflects the quality of the overall development in children and adolescents, their functional status, and the level of general health. The formation of a genetically determined peak bone mass begins at birth and continues until the age of 25 years, providing skeletal strength throughout life. Materials and methods. There were examined five hundred seventy five people including 427 11–18 years schoolchildren and 148 19–25 years students. Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed by 2-energy X-ray absorptiometry in the distal forearm bones using a DTX-200 densitometer (USA). A decrease in BMD was recorded at Z score < –2.0 SD for a given age and gender. A questionnaire was used to assess risk factors for a decrease in BMD. Results. A decrease in BMD among schoolchildren was registered in 9.9% of respondents. The prevalence of BMD deficiency in girls was 13.3%, in boys — 5.4%. The results of densitometry among students showed a decrease in bone mineralization in 12.1%. A comparative analysis of the decrease in BMD in the age aspect among schoolchildren and students did not reveal significant differences. In all schoolchildren with insufficient BMD, there were noted following risk factors as a pronounced deficiency in dietary calcium intake, physical inactivity, sugar abuse, vitamin D deficiency in 76.1%, deficiency in 23.9%, a history of fractures — 25.5%, smoking — 31.1%. In all students with a decrease in BMD also there were found 4 or more risk factors including low intake of dietary calcium, physical inactivity, low levels of vitamin D (deficiency -64.2%, deficiency — 35.8%), more than 5 cups of coffee per day — 35.1%, smoking — 46.6%, history of fractures — 33%. Conclusion. The goal of educational work among parents, schoolchildren and students should be the formation of correct food preferences, which in the future will be the base for the prevention of a decrease in BMD.