AbstractIn an attempt to find a simple objective method for assessment of osteoporosis applicable to children, the measurement of the metacarpal index by the method devised by Barnett and Nordin (1960) was made in a group of normal children under ten years of age and in a group of children known to have gluten-induced enteropathy. A range of normal values at different ages has been derived from the measurements in the group of normal children in whom the values rose with age but were below the level accepted as normal for adults. In the children with coeliac disease the values also rose with age but were always below those of the control group and the difference was shown to be statistically significant. The metacarpal index previously applied to adults appears to be applicable to the assessment of osteoporosis in children.