Bone mineral content and estimated total body calcium in normal children and adolescents.

Bone mineral content in the distal part of the forearm was measured in 301 normal children and adolescents aged from 7-20 years to estimate total body calcium in these age groups. From year 7 to 9 and from year 15 to 20 the mean values in boys were significantly higher than those in girls. In the lower age groups there was a slow increase in estimated total body calcium with age, followed by a sharp increase at the age of puberty.