Bone mass in normal children and young adults.

The growth of bone mass in the radius of children from age 6 on was studied in Indiana and Wisconsin. Growth curves describing change in bone mass, bone width, body height and weight were fitted separately to the data of males and females in the two states. Statistically significant differences between states were found in almost all growth measurements in both sexes. Refined growth curves with standard deviations were generated separately for the two states. When adjusted for age and bone width, Wisconsin subjects always had higher mean bone mass than Indiana subjects. Thus researchers should exercise caution when using published normative values established elsewhere.