[Influence of nutrition on the bone development of children]

Abstract

The effect of nutrition on infant bone age was studied. Bone age was examined in children with different degrees of malnutrition using wrist X-Rays and comparing them with Greulich and Pyle Atlas. There were no differences in the socioeconomic level of the different groups. In obese children bone age was advanced, while in under-nourished, it was retarded. The more severe the undernutrition the more delayed the bone age. A positive correlation between the percentage of variation of bone age and chronological age, and percentage of height for age was found. A greater delay in bone age was detected in undernourished children who had been small for date infants.