NUTRITION, GENETICS AND SKELETAL DEVELOPMENT

From infancy through young adulthood the activity of bone formation pr edominates, resulting in a steady accumulation of bone mass. As the ra te of growth changes with age, so skeletal modeling progresses through phases of different intensity with time. This is paralleled by concom itant changes in bone and calcium metabolism. Bone modeling and skelet al consolidation probably result from a complex sequence of hormonal c hanges in interaction with nutritional factors. However, current knowl edge of the role, sequence, and genetic regulation of hormonal events during puberty, and of the response of bone tissue in interaction with nutrition is limited. This interaction is now beginning to be elucida ted. The importance of this interaction with regard to fracture epidem iology in children and peak bone mass acquisition has been discussed.