Influence of weight status on bone mineral content measured by DXA in children.

INTRODUCTION: Childhood obesity is a public health problem with repercussions in later life. As tissue formation peaks in childhood we determined how weight status influences bone mineral content. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 553 children aged 4-18 years over 10 years (46.8% girls). We measured age, weight, height and through bone densitometry (DXA), bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), and waist, arm and hip circumferences. The patients were divided into groups using the body mass index z-score: underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese and very obese. RESULTS: BMC and BMD values were highest in the normal-weight and overweight groups. Logistic regression showed bone mineralization was inversely associated with waist circumference, the association being positive for weight and age. No differences were found according to sex. DISCUSSION: Studies of the relationship between weight and bone mineralization report contradictory results, often because of different study designs. Moreover, studies in children are either few or with small samples. Our findings in a large sample show the importance of weight status in bone mineralization given the risk of bone fractures or osteoporosis. CONCLUSIONS: Weight status influenced bone mineralization. BMC and BMD decreased in children with a higher degree of obesity. Waist circumference correlated negatively with bone mineralization.

Endocrinological anomalies in a patient with 12q14 microdeletion syndrome. Completing phenotype of this exceptional short stature condition.

12q14 microdeletion syndrome consists of the association of short stature, mental retardation, and osteopoikilosis. Since its first description in 2007, there have been <20 cases reported and each case presented variable phenotypes. We present a girl with 12q14 microdeletion that showed mental retardation and short stature but without osteopoikilosis. She also exhibited precocious puberty and growth hormone deficiency and required treatment for improving final height. This report adds further to the knowledge of the endocrinological anomalies in 12q14 microdeletion syndrome. It is important to perform growth hormone level measurements and pubertal signs to follow-up with these patients and avoid the consequential adult height worsening.