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Comparisons of trabecular and cortical bone in late adolescent black and white females

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Abstract

Few childhood studies have investigated racial differences in volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), bone geometry, and bone strength indices measured by three-dimensional bone imaging. The purpose of this study was to compare trabecular and cortical bone parameters at the radius and tibia between late adolescent white and black females using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (QCT). White (n = 25) and black females (n = 25), 18–19 years of age, were pair-matched for age, height, and fat-free soft tissue mass. Peripheral QCT scans were obtained at the 4% (trabecular bone), 20% (cortical bone), and 66% [muscle cross-sectional area (CSA)] sites from the distal metaphyses. Bone strength was determined from vBMD and bone geometry to calculate bone strength index (BSI; trabecular site) and polar strength–strain index (SSI; cortical site). Radial SSI was not different between groups; however, blacks had greater radial BSI (P = 0.02) than whites. After adjustment for the longer forearm in blacks, the greater radial BSI in blacks no longer remained. At the tibia, blacks versus whites had greater bone strength at the trabecular and cortical bone sites (BSI, P = 0.03; SSI, P = 0.04, respectively). When controlling for differences in tibial length and muscle CSA, the higher estimates of bone strength persisted in blacks versus whites (BSI, P = 0.01; SSI, P = 0.02). Our data suggest that when differences in body size are considered, late adolescent black versus white females have a stronger bone profile, due to greater bone geometry and vBMD, at the trabecular and cortical regions of the tibia but not at the radius.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the study subjects for their participation. We also thank Jessica Principe, Veronique Bredas, Ashley Ferira, and Maria Breen for coordinating the project. N.K.P., R.D.L., E.M.L., C.A.B., M.W.H., and D.B.H. were responsible for the study concept and design; N.K.P., E.M.L., R.G.F., and R.D.L. were responsible for the acquisition of the data. N.K.P. and D.B.H. conducted the statistical analyses. N.K.P., R.D.L., E.M.L., R.G.F., and D.B.H. were responsible for the interpretation of the data and drafting the manuscript. All authors contributed to the revision of the manuscript. Funding was received from The University of Georgia Research Foundation and College of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Conflict of interest statement

None of the authors had any personal or financial conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Georgia Prevention Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Building HS-1640, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA

    Norman K. Pollock

  2. Department of Foods and Nutrition, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

    Emma M. Laing, Ruth G. Taylor, Clifton A. Baile & Richard D. Lewis

  3. Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA

    Mark W. Hamrick

  4. Department of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

    Daniel B. Hall

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  1. Norman K. Pollock
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  2. Emma M. Laing
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  4. Clifton A. Baile
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  7. Richard D. Lewis
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Correspondence to Norman K. Pollock.

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Pollock, N.K., Laing, E.M., Taylor, R.G. et al. Comparisons of trabecular and cortical bone in late adolescent black and white females. J Bone Miner Metab 29, 44–53 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00774-010-0186-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00774-010-0186-z

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