ABSTRACT
The continent of Africa occupies an area of approximately 30 million km2. It stretches 8000 km from north (Tunisia, 37°N) to south (South Africa 34°S) and 7400 km from west (Cape Verde, 17°W) to east (Somalia, 51°E). Thus, the continent encompasses temperate and tropical countries and has geographical features ranging from desert to tropical rain forest and altitudes from below
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 433 Burden of Nutrition-Related Skeletal Disorders in Africa ............................................................. 434
Intrauterine Growth Retardation and Stunting ...................................................................... 434 Rickets and Osteomalacia ..................................................................................................... 435 Fluorosis ............................................................................................................................... 435 Osteoporosis ......................................................................................................................... 436
Bone Growth and Development ..................................................................................................... 437 Linear Growth ....................................................................................................................... 437 Other Skeletal Dimensions ................................................................................................... 437 Skeletal Maturation and Bone Age ....................................................................................... 437 Bone Mineral Accretion, Content and Density, Peak Bone Mass, and Strength .................. 437 Biochemical Markers of Bone Turnover ...............................................................................440
Environmental Factors and Skeletal Growth in Africa ..................................................................440 Diet and Nutrition .................................................................................................................440
