title: Nature or nurture: determinants of peak bone mass in females.
abstract: Peak bone strength depends on bone mass, bone size (geometry), and bone material properties. Most studies to date have focused on bone mass as assessed with the use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, with bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) being best described. Peak BMC accrual follows by 6 months the growth spurt of adolescent females, and there is good evidence for tracking of BMD during puberty, indicating genetic influence. The search for genes involved in the regulation of peak bone strength has revealed inconsistent findings. Weight-bearing exercise during the peripubertal years enhances BMD and bone geometry of the axial skeleton, but calcium intake is not predictive of peak BMD. Estrogen plays a critical role in the accrual of BMC, and nutrition is an important factor in both bone size and BMC.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, The Children 's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia. chrisc@chw.edu.au
authors.forename: Chris T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Cowell
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tao
mesh_terms: D015519:Bone Density; D001846:Bone Development; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000502:physiology; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D013006:Growth Hormone