The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
2009 , Vol 51 , Num 6
The effects of nutrition and physical activity on bone development in male adolescents
Unit of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
Peak bone mass (PBM) is defined as the highest bone mineral content (BMC)
reached in any period of a person’s life. The bone mass once gained at the
peak begins to decline and continues to do so until the end of life. The aim
of this study was to evaluate the relationship of nutrition and physical activity
on bone mineralization during the adolescent period. The study took place at
Hacettepe University İhsan Doğramacı Children’s Hospital Adolescent Unit.
One hundred fourteen healthy male adolescents applying for different reasons,
with ages ranging between 11.1 and 16.5 years, participated in the study.
When all adolescents were evaluated, no statistical relationship between the
daily calcium intake, BMC and bone mineral density (BMD) was obtained.
However, a positive statistical relationship was found for those participants
in Tanner stage I. This result is in support of previous studies stating the
importance of calcium intake and bone mineralization in the prepubertal
stage, suggested by our findings, which yielded a positive correlation only
in the prepubertal stage. One of the reasons for the same effect not being
observed in puberty is thought to be due to the hormonal changes and active
role of sex steroids. This shows how critical the prepubertal period is for
future bone health. During this critical period of prepuberty, the significance
of nutritions and physical activity is evident.
Keywords :
nutrition, physical activity, bone development, male adolescents.