Abstract
Purpose: To study bone mineral density and bone markers in stunted adolescents. Design: Case-control study. Subjects and Methods: The subjects were 159 stunted boys and girls, mean age (13.26±2.00 years) from the stunting out-patient clinic of the National Nutrition Institute, Cairo, Egypt. The control group was 159 age-, sex- and socio-economically matched adolescents with normal height for age. Clinical history, anthropometry, bone mineral density and various laboratory parameters [haemoglobin concentration, serum calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, alkaline phosphatase, serum osteocalcin (as a marker of bone formation), urinary calcium/creatinine ratio] were estimated. Results: The mean bone mineral density was significantly lower among the stunted group compared with the control group. Serum levels of calcium and magnesium were significantly lower among the stunted group. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly higher among the stunted group; no significant difference was found in the mean levels of haemoglobin, phosphorus, copper, osteocalcin, and urinary calcium/creatinine ratio between the stunted group and the control group. Conclusion: Stunted adolescents suffer from negative impacts such as a low body mass index and multinutrient deficiencies that have profound effects on the development of maximal skeletal maturity.