Juvenile osteoporosis

At Children’s Hospital Boston, our care is informed by our research, and our discoveries in the laboratory strengthen the care we provide at each child's bedside. In particular, researchers from our Bone Health Program are actively involved in exploring the causes and symptoms of pediatric low bone density and researching new and improved treatments. Read about our recent research efforts, which include:

• the use of adrenal and gonadal hormone replacement to prevent osteoporosis in patients with anorexia nervosa
• optimization of vitamin D stores and its impact on the bone health and disease outcomes of children and adolescents with IBD

Some of our recent studies

In a recent study at Children’s, we found that girls with anorexia, paradoxically, have strikingly high levels of fat within their bone marrow. "It's counter-intuitive that an emaciated young woman with almost no subcutaneous fat would be storing fat in her marrow," says endocrinologist Catherine Gordon, MD, MSc, director of the Bone Health Program and the study's senior investigator. We believe this has an effect on bone formation and may be why bone formation in girls with anorexia is so compromised.

In addition, we are conducting a studying unexplained childhood fractures. We are interested in identifying the causes of unexplained fractures or fractures that occur following non-accidental trauma during childhood. We would like to know whether these children and young adults have milder mutations in juvenile osteoporosis, or whether we can identify new fracture-predisposing genes.

Clinical trials

Children’s is known for pioneering some of the most effective diagnostic tools, therapies and preventive approaches in matters relating to children’s bone health. A significant part of our success comes from our commitment to research—and to advancing the frontiers of mental health care by conducting clinical trials.

Children’s coordinates hundreds of clinical trialsat any given time. Clinical trials are studies that may involve:

• evaluating the effectiveness of a new drug therapy
• testing a new diagnostic procedure or device
• examining a new treatment method for a particular condition
• taking a closer look at the causes and progression of specific diseases

Taking part in a clinical trial at Children’s is entirely voluntary. Our team will be sure to fully address any questions you may have, and you may remove your child from the medical study at any time.

Search current and upcoming clinical trials at Children’s.                          

Search the National Institutes of Health’s list of clinical trials taking place around the world.