Pediatric Bone Mineral Accrual Study

A longitudinal study of the relationship of physical activity to bone mineral accrual from adolescence to young adulthood (Adam DG Baxter-Jones, 2008)

There is a strong evidence to support that physical activity in childhood and adolescence improves bone mass acquisition. However, it was unclear if such benefit continues into adult years. This connection can only be established with longitudinal studies that follow their subject from childhood through adult years. One of such researches is The University of Saskatchewan's Pediatric Bone Mineral Accrual Study. The study collected data on 154 participants with entry ages ranging from 8 to 15 years, and who had returned for follow-up measures as young adults. Participants were grouped in to one of three adolescent physical activity groups: active, average or inactive. Bone mineral content (BMC; indicating the amount and strength of bone) was measured annually. As a result, the PBMAS findings not only confirmed the evidence that physical activity has a positive effects on bone during the growing years, but also found that these advantages continue into young adulthood. (Read the full article)

Bone mineral accrual from 8 to 30 years of age: An estimation of peak bone mass (Adam DG Baxter-Jones, 2011)

Previous research has established a link between the gain of bone mass in early life and the risk of development of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is essentially the weakening of bone due to age related loss of bone mass. The Saskatchewan Pediatric Bone Mineral Accrual Study (PBMAS) is able to contribute unique research in this area, due to its mixed longitudinal design – data collected on the same people over 25 years. As such, researchers are able to track the amount of bone laid down and subsequently lost over the lifespan. The following article gives a brief overview of the PBMAS and presents the results of the study. Findings from this study show that the most substantial increase in bone mass happens in up to 5 years surrounding the adolescent growth spurt (11.8 years in females and 13.5 years in males). After that, significantly smaller quantity of bone mass is gained until the late twenties or very early thirties. This tells us that childhood and adolescence are the most critical times for bone mineral accumulation. In fact the bone mass gained during this time is double the amount that will be lost in late adulthood. As such, optimizing gains during growth would allow for a higher starting point at which bone loss begins, leading to a lower risk of development of osteoporosis. (Read the full article)

For general information about how to get to College of Kinesiology, what to do before and after the study or what to expect during it, visit the page for Research Volunteers.

DXA Scan

Ensure that you wear no jewelry or zippers for the DXA scan.

Fasting Glucose and Insulin Test Preparation

No food or drink other than water for 10 hours before your test. Please take note and tell the researcher or phlebotomist taking your blood if you are on any medications (prescription, over-the-counter or herbal supplements) including:

• acetaminophen
• corticosteroids
• steroids
• diuretics
• birth control pills
• hormone therapy
• aspirin
• atypical antipsychotics
• lithium
• epinephrine
• tricyclic antidepressants
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• sulfonylurea medications