The natural course of bone mineral density in transgender youth before medical treatment; a cross sectional study
Authors' conclusion
In individuals AMAB aged 12-22 years prior to any treatment, BMD Z-scores were inversely correlated with age. This could imply that BMD increases less in individuals AMAB than in the general population, and that changes in Z-score during puberty suppression and subsequent hormone supplementation are not necessarily due to treatment, but possibly related to lifestyle factors.
Study context
- Population
- Transgender youth aged 12–25 years with DXA scans prior to medical intervention
- Participants
- 333 vs 556
- Exposure
- Assigned male at birth (AMAB) vs assigned female at birth (AFAB)
- AMABn = 333
- AFABn = 556
- Outcome
- Relationship between age and BMD Z-scores of sex assigned at birth at LS, TH, FN and TBLH, adjusted for height SDS, height-adjusted lean mass Z-score and whole body % fat Z-score
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Association of BMD Z-score with age (per year)
| Group | Lumbar spine (LS), age 12-22 y | Total hip (TH), age 12-22 y | Femoral neck (FN), age 12-22 y | Total-body-less-head (TBLH), age 12-22 y | TBLH, age 12-20 y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMAB | −0.13/year (95% CI −0.17; −0.10) | −0.05/year (95% CI −0.08; −0.02) | −0.06/year (95% CI −0.10; −0.03) | −0.12/year (95% CI −0.15; −0.09) | |
| AFAB | −0.08/year, 95% CI −0.12; −0.04 |
Lumbar spine (LS), age 12-22 y
AMAB−0.13/year (95% CI −0.17; −0.10)
AFAB— not stated in the abstract
Total hip (TH), age 12-22 y
AMAB−0.05/year (95% CI −0.08; −0.02)
AFAB— not stated in the abstract
Femoral neck (FN), age 12-22 y
AMAB−0.06/year (95% CI −0.10; −0.03)
AFAB— not stated in the abstract
Total-body-less-head (TBLH), age 12-22 y
AMAB−0.12/year (95% CI −0.15; −0.09)
AFAB— not stated in the abstract
TBLH, age 12-20 y
AMAB— not stated in the abstract
AFAB−0.08/year, 95% CI −0.12; −0.04
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
AMAB: adjustment for height-adjusted lean mass Z-score
- Attenuated the association at LS and TBLH; eliminated it at TH and FN
Original publication
The natural course of bone mineral density in transgender youth before medical treatment; a cross sectional study. Eur J Endocrinol. Published 1 October 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →