A few days ago, a parent and I said that when taking the baby to the physical examination, they were required to have a bone mineral density test. Moreover, the test results show that the bone mineral density is low and calcium supplement is needed.
Is bone mineral density test what? Today, Dr. Clove will tell you what is going on.
What is a bone mineral density test?
Bone mineral density, also known as bone mineral density, refers to the bone mineral content per unit area.
Because the main component of bone minerals is calcium, bone mineral density has become an important objective indicator to evaluate bone calcium content.
The purpose of measuring bone mineral density is to determine bone fragility, predict fracture risk and monitor treatment.
Do children need bone mineral density tests?
Healthy children do not need routine bone mineral density testing.
Although bone mineral density detection has the advantages of rapidity, accuracy and high repeatability, there is currently a lack of normal reference values for children.
Only children with one of the following conditions are recommended for bone mineral density assessment: recurrent fracture, bone pain, bone deformity, common radiographic examination indicating osteoporosis, monitoring certain special diseases or treatment.
Does calcium supplement need to be supplemented for abnormal bone mineral density examination?
First of all, you need to determine whether the bone mineral density is really abnormal. If it is the result of B-ultrasound measurement, be sure to check DXA measurement of hip or lumbar spine to confirm it.
For children, especially infants at the vigorous growth stage, low bone mineral density actually means the process of rapid growth, which is a good phenomenon, rather than calcium supplement.
Clinical studies have found that there is no obvious correlation between dietary calcium intake and bone mineral density in healthy children and adolescents. Moreover, increasing dietary calcium intake or calcium supplements has little effect on bone mineral density.
Of course, extremely low calcium intake may indeed cause abnormal bone mineral density. However, the more calcium, the better. High calcium intake is also easy to increase the burden on baby’s kidneys and other organs.
Therefore, as long as mothers only need to supplement the calcium intake that their babies probably need every day, it is good.
Bone mineral density testing is one thing. Therefore, it is really unnecessary for babies to do bone mineral density testing.
In fact, parents want their babies to keep their bones healthy. Long-term, appropriate and regular exercise is the best and most effective measure.