Peak bone mass

Peak bone mass is the maximum amount of bone a person has during their life. It typically occurs in the early 20s in both males and females. A low peak bone mass is a risk factor for osteoporosis and may occur due to less than optimal bone growth. Peak bone mass is also typically lower in females than males as well as in White people and Asians. A way to determine bone mass is to look at the size and density of the mineralized tissue in the periosteal envelope and using the bone mineral density (BMD) of a person can determine the strength of that bone Research has shown that puberty affects bone size much more because during this time males typically undergo a longer bone maturation period than women which is why women are more prone to osteoporosis than men.