Broken Arm May Signal Poor Bone Health in African American Children

Forearm fractures in African-American children were associated with lower whole-body bone mineral density (BMD) and a 3.5-fold higher likelihood of vitamin D deficiency in a case-control study by researchers of the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

"Given that 90% of peak bone mass is achieved by the age of 18, deficient bone health in childhood also negatively impacts adult bone mineralization and may increase the risk of adult osteoporosis and related fracture," they wrote.

Researchers examined data from 76 African-American children, ages 5 to 9 years, with forearm fractures, as well as 74 controls with no history of broken bones. 

Participants with forearm breaks had a lower mean whole-body BMD z score of 0.62 compared with 0.98 among controls.  Each unit of increase in BMD resulted in the odds of forearm fracture dropping by 62%.

The study also showed a correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and BMD levels, with risk of fracture decreasing by 10% for every unit increase in vitamin D. 

“Because suboptimal childhood bone health also negatively impacts adult bone health, interventions to increase bone mineral density and correct vitamin D deficiency are indicated in this population to provide short-term and long-term benefits,” they concluded. 

-Michael Potts