Influence of age and morphological characteristics on whole body, lumbar spine, femoral neck and 1/3 radius bone mineral apparent density in a group of Lebanese adolescent boys.

The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationships between age, morphological characteristics (weight, height, body mass index (BMI), fat and lean mass), daily calcium intake (DCI), physical activity and bone mineral apparent density (BMAD) of the whole body (WB), lumbar spine (L2-L4), femoral neck (FN) and 1/3 radius in a group of Lebanese adolescent boys. This study included 60 Lebanese adolescent (16.8 ± 2.1 years old) boys. Body composition and bone mineral density (BMD) were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). BMAD values of the WB, L2-L4, FN and 1/3 radius were calculated. Physical activity and DCI were assessed using questionnaires. Age was positively related to WB, L2-L4 and 1/3 radius BMD and BMAD. Weight, lean mass and BMI were positively related to WB, L2-L4, FN and 1/3 radius BMD. Moreover, weight, lean mass and BMI were positively associated with L2-L4 and FN BMAD but not with BMAD of the WB and the 1/3 radius, while fat mass percentage was negatively associated with WB BMAD. In conclusion, this study shows that weight, lean mass and BMI are positively associated with BMAD of the weight-bearing bones (L2-L4 and FN) but not with BMAD of the WB and the 1/3 radius in adolescent boys.