Decreased cortical thickness & osteopenia in children with diabetes mellitus

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1977 Oct;45(4):845-8. doi: 10.1210/jcem-45-4-845.

Abstract

A recent study using the photon absorption technique has revealed a high frequency of significant bone loss in diabetic adults regardless of age or duration of diabetes. In this study 107 diabetic children age 4-18 were studied using cortical bone thickness and skeletal maturation as indicators of bone development. Overall, 25% of all diabetic children had cortical thickness values below the five percent limit for normal children. This was more common in boys than girls and was unrelated to duration of diabetes. A modest increase in delayed skeletal maturation did not account for the cortical thinning and osteopenia observed. The cause of the osteopenia of diabetic children remains an enigma.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Bone Development
  • Bone Diseases / complications*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / complications*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Sex Factors