Late puberty may lead to weaker bones
Finding could have impact on identifying those at risk of osteoporosis later on, authors say
Teens who hit puberty late may end up with lower bone density, a study finds.
In the study, which included more than 6000 British children, researchers report that those who experienced their growth spurts late had lower-than-average bone density in young adulthood.
Finding which teens might be at risk of lower bone density is important because peak bone mass at the end of growth is thought to be an important determinant of later-life risk of fracture and osteoporosis, the researchers note in JAMA Network Open.
“For example, bone remodeling simulations showed that a 10% increase in bone mineral density would delay osteoporosis by 13 years,” they said.
