Influence of calcium intake and growth indexes on vertebral bone mineral density in young females.

This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between current calcium intake and vertebral bone mineral density (V-BMD) in 49 healthy Caucasian adolescent females aged 8-18 y. The ability of current calcium intake to account for the variance in V-BMD in this population was compared with that seen with weight, height, maturational age (determined by the Tanner Sexual Maturity Rating), chronological age, and total energy expenditure. Calcium intake was determined from the mean of 4-d, food-intake records. Average vertebral bone mineral density from L1-L4 was measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry. A multiple-regression model revealed that 81% of the variance in V-BMD was described by maturational age, chronological age, and calcium intake, with all representing significant predictors of bone mineral density (P less than 0.0001, 0.005, 0.04, respectively). This study supports the hypothesis that better calcium nutrition during adolescence may optimize, within genetic boundaries, peak bone mass.