Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40129031›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism2025

Race-neutral Pediatric Reference Ranges for Bone Mineral Density Predict Prospective Fractures in Childhood.

Babette S Zemel, Karen K Winer, Andrea Kelly, David S Freedman, Jonathan A Mitchell, David R Weber, Shana E McCormack, Tara McWilliams, Joan M Lappe, Sharon E Oberfield and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Effects of stress on bone health in children.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Babette S ZemelDivision of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-6164-7348
Karen K WinerEunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA.
Andrea KellyDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
David S FreedmanRetired, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Jonathan A MitchellDivision of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
David R WeberDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Shana E McCormackDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-1143-4459
Tara McWilliamsCenter for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Joan M LappeDepartment of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68124, USA.
Sharon E OberfieldDivision of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
John A ShepherdCancer Center, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA.
Struan F A GrantDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Heidi J KalkwarfDivision of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.

Funding

Phenotypic Diversity in COVID-19UL1TR001878 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · PI FITZGERALD, GARRET A · 2016 to 2025
$102.4M
Cincinnati Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences and TrainingUL1TR000077 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI · PI HEUBI, JAMES E., TSEVAT, JOEL · 2012 to 2014
$9.9M
Genomics of bone and body composition traits in childrenR01HD100406 · NICHD · CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA · PI GRANT, STRUAN F A, ZEMEL, BABETTE S · 2020 to 2024
$3.4M
Genome Wide Association Study of Bone Mineral Accretion During ChildhoodR01HD058886 · NICHD · CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA · PI GRANT, STRUAN F A, ZEMEL, BABETTE S · 2010 to 2013
$3.1M
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development N01-HD-1-3228, -3329, -3330, -3331, -3332, -3333NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR000077NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR001878NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD058886NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD100406NIH HHS R01HD100406NIH HHS R01HD58886NIH HHS UL1TR000077NIH HHS UL1TR001878
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionRace-specific reference ranges for pediatric areal bone mineral density (BMD) are widely used, but the value of race-based clinical algorithms has been questioned. We developed race-neutral pediatric reference ranges for areal BMD and bone mineral apparent density (BMAD) and compared race-specific vs race-neutral Z-scores in their ability to predict prospective fractures. MATERIAL AND

methodsThis secondary analysis of the Bone Mineral Density in Childhood Study used longitudinal BMD data of the spine, hip, forearm, and total body less head and BMAD from dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. Race/ethnicity, dietary calcium, physical activity, and prospective fractures were assessed by questionnaire. Race-neutral reference ranges and height-for-age Z-score adjustment equations were created using the lambda-sigma-mu method. Race-neutral and race-specific Z-scores were compared using linear mixed-effect modeling. Cox proportional hazard modeling was used to test whether race-neutral Z-scores associated with fracture.

resultsRace-neutral BMD and BMAD Z-scores were 0.5 to 0.7 SD greater than race-specific Z-scores for Black children but only ∼0.1 SD lower for children from other race/ethnicity groups. Growth and lifestyle factors modified group differences. One SD increase in race-neutral Z-scores was associated with a 12% to 18% reduced risk of fracture.

conclusionWe present the first race-neutral pediatric reference ranges for BMD and BMAD that are weighted to be representative of the US population and demonstrate that these Z-scores associate with fracture risk. Adoption of these new reference ranges should be considered, with thoughtful implementation for patients previously monitored with race-specific reference ranges, especially among children who identify as Black.

Indexed as

Bone DensityFractures, BoneAbsorptiometry, PhotonAdolescentBlack or African AmericanChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleProspective StudiesRacial GroupsReference ValuesBMADBMDchildrenfracture

Identifiers

PMID40129031
PMCPMC12527452

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.