Bone mass in a group of lebanese girls from Beirut and french girls from orleans

ABSTRACT

To compare bone mineral content [BMC] and bone mineral density [BMD] in a group of Lebanese girls from Beirut and French girls from Orl‚ans. This study included 26 French adolescent girls [15.3 +/- 0.7 years old] and 24 maturationmatched [15.4 +/- 1.1 years old] Lebanese adolescent girls. BMC, BMD at the whole body [WB] and body composition [lean mass and fat mass] were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry [DXA]. Calculations of the bone mineral apparent density [BMAD] and the ratio BMC/height were completed for the WB. Weight and height were similar in the two groups. Lean mass was higher in French girls compared to Lebanese girls [p < 0.05]. In the whole population, lean mass was a positive determinant of BMC and BMD. French girls displayed higher values of BMC, BMD, BMC/height and BMAD than Lebanese girls [p < 0.05]. Finally, BMC and BMD remained higher in French girls in comparison to Lebanese girls even after adjusting for lean mass. In this study group, Lebanese girls have lower BMC and BMD in comparison to French girls