Just recently I had a bone density scan, and my doctor called my mom back with the results and said that my Z-Score for my whole body was a -2.7. I was wondering what the normal Z-Score ranges are for a 17 year old male? I know according to the T-Score, I have osteoporosis, but they don't measure according to the T-Score in children. Its odd, because I have been taking 1200 mg of Calcium supplements everyday under my doctors orders. I am being referred to an endocrinologist because of this, possibly a problem with the parathyroid glands? Tell me what you think
Z-score is a measure used to determine your bone density by comparing your results to the results of your same age, weight and gender. A Z-score of less than minus-1.5 is a sign that there might be some other factor other than, most commonly, aging as a reason for low bone density or osteoporosis. There is number of reasons that might lower your bone density other than aging like problems with thyroid gland, malnutrition, being thin or having a small frame, estrogen deficiency or even some medications. So, calcium would have no effect until this original cause is removed.