Forearm bone mineral content in children. Normative data.

The bone mineral content in the forearm was measured by gamma-absorptiometry in 131 normal children. The bone mineral content was closely related to age, height and weight, to the size of forearm and to the force of the forearm muscles. By correcting for the dimensions of the bones a parameter of density (mass/volume) was calculated. This variable also increased with age. Knowing the necessary corrections factors gamma-absorptiometry could be a useful and harmless method for bone mineral assessment in children with various diseases.