We studied the relationship between bone density and cystic fibrosis in Spanish children and young adults. We measured the phalangeal bone amplitude-dependent speed of sound (Ad-SoS) in 35 patients with cystic fibrosis and in 30 healthy controls matched for gender, age, and body mass index (BMI). Participants were subjects with normal levels of 25(OH) Vitamin D. We found no difference in Ad-SoS between patients and controls. The only difference between the groups was that the patients had a significantly higher daily caloric intake than the controls (p < .05) as a result of the patient group's greater intake of fats (p < .05). There was a positive correlation between Ad-SoS and weight (p < .0001), but after adjusting for potential confounding factors such as age, the correlation was lost. The percentage of ideal weight did not differ between the two groups. We conclude that well-nourished CF patients had similar Ad-SoS to controls.
Keywords: bone density; bone ultrasound; cystic fibrosis; nutrition; phalangeal bone ultrasound.