Abstract des Autors

The purpose of this study was to identify the key predictor variables of whole body (WB) and lumbar spine (LS) bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) in 36 healthy menarcheal girls (14-18 y). Independent variables included measures of physical activity, cardiorespiratory and strength fitness, body composition, nutrition, gynecologic, and endocrine status. Multiple regression analysis indicated that body weigth accounted for the largest proportion (27.3 to 55.1%) of the explained variance for the 4 measures of bone mineral. Past yearly physical activity accounted for a small but significant proportion of the variance (6.7 to 15.0%) in WBBMC, WBBMD, and LSBMC, and age at 1st menses accounted for a small but significant proportion of the variance (9.3 to 18.4%) in all measures of bone mineral except WBBMC. Average daily calorie intake and serum growth hormone levels also accounted for significant proportions of the variance in LSBMC (11.3% and 7.3%, respectively). Cardiorespiratory and strength fitness did not appear to be important independent determinants of any of the measures of bone mineral in this study. Verf.-Referat